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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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The U.S. Department of State said Thursday that all immigrants in the country on visas were under continual review.
Officials were on the lookout for anything that could render an immigrant deportable, the department initially told the Associated Press (AP), potentially affecting up to 55 million people.
"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 later told Newsweek in a statement.
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Why It Matters
The administration of President Donald Trump has repeatedly made clear that it is taking a tough stance on immigration and border security, with the State Department playing a key role in determining eligibility for visa applications from overseas. It also monitors ongoing temporary visas, such as student and cultural exchange programs.
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What To Know
The State Department's assertion that all visa holders were subject to continual vetting is not necessarily new information, with various instances of visas being revoked in recent months, particularly those of foreign students.
The federal government as a whole is taking an increasingly tougher approach to legal immigration, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) recently announcing its agents would be on the lookout for anti-Americanism from benefits applicants going forward.
Any such expressions could see visa extensions, green cards or naturalizations denied.
The State Department's message on Thursday appeared to reflect a similar sentiment, with officials confirming to Newsweek that the agency was looking for any indicators of ineligibility, such as visa overstays, threats to public safety and criminal activity.
With several million legal immigrants in the U.S. at any one time, it remained to be seen how such ongoing vetting could be achieved.
A State Department spokesperson told Newsweek that officials were reviewing all available information as part of vetting processes, including law enforcement and immigration records.
Since January, the spokesperson said, the department had revoked twice as many visas as during the same period last year.
What People Are Saying
USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser, in a news release earlier this week: "America's benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is committed to implementing policies and procedures that root out anti-Americanism and supporting the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible."
What's Next
The language from the State Department on Thursday indicated a renewed effort to check up on immigrants within the U.S., but it was not immediately clear how such check-ins would take place.
Reporting by the AP contributed to this article.
This is a breaking news story. More details to follow.
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