The United States Department of State has announced the revocation of visas belonging to more than 80,000 individuals, including citizens of Nigeria and several other nations.
In a statement released on Thursday, the department said the decision aligns with President Donald Trump’s renewed policy directive to strengthen national security and safeguard the interests of Americans.
The move, it added, reflects the administration’s commitment to ensuring that only law-abiding individuals are permitted entry into or residence within the United States.
“This is about protecting Americans, promises made, promises kept,” the statement read.
According to U.S. authorities, the affected visa holders were penalized for a range of offenses, including assault, theft, and driving under the influence (DUI).
The report revealed that, in 2025 alone, approximately 16,000 people lost their visas over DUI convictions, 12,000 for assault-related offenses, and 8,000 for theft.
Other factors cited for the large-scale cancellations include links to terrorist activities, support for extremist groups, threats to public safety, and violations of immigration laws, such as overstaying authorized visa periods.
The department emphasized that the revocation exercise forms part of broader efforts to maintain the integrity of the U.S. immigration system and to ensure that visitors to the country adhere strictly to its laws and regulations.
While the announcement did not specify the number of Nigerians affected, diplomatic observers noted that the measure is consistent with the Trump administration’s tougher stance on border security and immigration control since returning to office.
