Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The U.S. State Department is planning to review more than 55 million visa holders for deportable offenses such as overstays, criminal activity and engagement in terrorist activities.
The State Department says about 6,000 student visas have already been revoked. Some for minor infractions and others for national security concerns.
"This is another layer of messaging from the Trump administration saying that we're tough on immigration in the U.S. and we're not going to tolerate anything less than 100% compliance with law enforcement," said attorney Rosanna Berardi of Berardi Immigration Law.
What types of violations would trigger someone being removed from the country?
"There are things that are significant," said Berardi. "A parking ticket? No. A bar fight in which no one gets injured? No. But a felony arrest for robbery, burglary and things of that nature, yes."
She adds this has been going on since the sands of time. People who hold visas in the United States are bound by immigration laws, which say if you do get arrested for something significant, you're going to be removed from the U.S.
The messaging is having a major impact at the border, as illegal crossings are down significantly. The number of people coming into the U.S. is down, with 28% fewer international students coming to the U.S.
In addition, the Trump administration is screening for "anti-American" views in citizenship applications with a focus on assessing the moral character of prospective citizens.
Berardi says this isn't a huge policy shift. The administration does not want to see any anti-American behavior from people in the U.S. who are receiving immigration benefits.