U.S. revokes over 80,000 visas, citing security concerns, criminal offences

The United States Department of State has revoked the visas of more than 80,000 individuals worldwide, including Nigerians, in what it described as a renewed effort to safeguard national security and uphold public safety.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Department said the visa cancellation aligns with President Donald Trump’s administration’s pledge to protect American interests, a policy tagged “promises made, promises kept.”

According to the statement, the revocations were linked to a wide range of offences, including assault, theft, and driving under the influence (DUI).

The statement noted that data from 2024 indicated that 16,000 individuals were penalised for DUI offences, 12,000 for assault, and 8,000 for theft.

The Department further explained that other grounds for visa withdrawal included connections to terrorism, support for extremist activities, threats to public safety, and violations of U.S. immigration laws such as overstaying visa terms.

While the U.S. authorities did not provide a breakdown of affected countries, sources familiar with the development said Nigeria is among the nations with a notable number of affected citizens.

Read also: U.S. unveils new visa, green card rules targeting applicants with chronic illnesses

A Nigerian traveller identified only as Wole, disclosed that his U.S. visa was recently revoked without prior notice, warning fellow Nigerians to prepare for more cancellations.

“I was shocked when I found out. They said it was part of a new review exercise. Nigerians should expect more of this,” he said.

The visa revocation follows an increasing emphasis by U.S. authorities on stricter immigration scrutiny, especially in cases involving criminal or security-related red flags.