The magic number for the Trump administration is 55 million.
That is the number of people who have visas issued by the U.S. who will be reviewed to see if there are any violations that could lead to deportation.
According to the Associated Press, this one of the measures the administration is employing to restrict foreigners seeking to come to the U.S.
The State Department said all U.S. visa holders’ statuses are conditional and undergo “continuous vetting.”
Officials are looking for any reason that person may be ineligible to come or stay in the U.S. This includes tourists.
If negative information is discovered, that person’s visa would be revoked. If they are currently in the U.S., they may be deported.
Holding migrants accountable has been a priority for President Donald Trump since he took office in January. This includes those who have student and visitor exchange visas.
As of last year, according to the Department of Homeland Security, there were were 12.8 million green-card holders and 3.6 million people in the U.S. on temporary visas.
Julia Gelatt, associate director of the U.S. immigration policy program at the Migration Policy Institute, said the 55 million people number includes those currently outside the United States with multiple-entry tourist visas. She questioned spending resources investigating those who may never return to the U.S.
The State Department is seeking people who are now ineligible, such as those who stayed “past the authorized timeframe outlined in a visa, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organization,” per the AP.
“We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance indicating a potential ineligibility,” the department said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X Thursday that the U.S. will stop issuing worker visas for commercial truck drivers, effective immediately.
“The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers,” Rubio wrote.
The administration has also upped the enforcement of making sure truckers speak and read English proficiently.
The Department of Transportation wants to improve road safety after there have been incidents of drivers’ inability to read signs or speak English leading to traffic deaths.
“Ensuring that every driver on our roads meets the highest standards is important to protecting the livelihoods of American truckers and maintaining a secure, resilient supply chain,” the State Department said.
