On August 21, 2025, the administration stated that it plans to initiate a review process for approximately 55 million foreign nationals currently holding U.S. visas. This “continuous vetting” process by the U.S. Department of State (USDOS) aims to identify potential grounds for visa revocation and possible deportation, including indicators such as:
- Overstaying the authorized visa period.
- Engaging in criminal activity.
- Threats to public safety.
- Involvement in or providing support to terrorist activity or organizations.
This measure is also seen as a significant expansion of the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. The current administration has made immigration enforcement a key priority by aggressively cracking down on undocumented immigrants and revoking visas for students.
Confirmation of the “continuous vetting” of the more than 55 million U.S. visa holders came the same day Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the administration was immediately pausing issuing new visas for commercial truck drivers. Secretary Rubio who stated on “X” that foreign truck drivers were “endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”
The statement comes during the same week as the USDOS announced it had revoked around 6,000 student visas for overstays and other alleged legal violations.
The USDOS said that all U.S. visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting” with an eye towards any indication that they could be ineligible for the document. It indicated that “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 New York Times is estimating this week that the government is on track to deport 400,000 people in 2025.
Authorities have gone after working immigrants through raids of restaurants, construction sites, and farms.
The government has also sought to roll back humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status, which has given hundreds of thousands of people from a range of countries facing adverse conditions the right to live and work in the U.S.
Equally important are the accumulated effects these actions will have on employers and employees alike:
Supply Chain Disruptions: The trucking industry already faces a significant driver shortage, estimated at 80,000 in 2021 by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), with projections of 115,000 in 2025 and 160,000 by 2030. The pause in issuing new driver visas could exacerbate this shortage, leading to increased delays in freight transport and potentially impacting supply chains. A study earlier this year estimated that the existing shortage costs the freight industry $95.5 million per week due to undelivered goods, according to CBS 19 News.
Labor Costs: Employers relying on foreign workers to address driver shortages may face pressure to increase wages and benefits to attract and retain domestic drivers. This can increase operational costs for businesses.
Recruitment Challenges: The difficulty in finding qualified drivers may intensify, particularly for companies that utilize the H-2B visa program for temporary or seasonal needs. Trucking companies will need to adjust their hiring strategies and potentially invest more in recruitment efforts to attract and retain domestic talent, according to the Association for Supply Chain Management – ASCM.
Increased Regulatory Scrutiny: The general climate of increased immigration enforcement, including the continuous vetting of visa holders, could lead to more audits and scrutiny of businesses employing foreign workers.
More information on these actions will be coming up.