President Trump tightens visa control as US deports 3 million foreign nationals in 15 months
The administration of United States (US) President Donald Trump has announced a fresh set of figures highlighting the scale of its immigration enforcement campaign since his return to the White House.
The US government said its border policy has resulted in more than three million deportations, alongside tighter controls on visas, citizenship applications, public benefits and voter registration as reported by Vanguard.
The figures were contained in a fact sheet issued by the US Department of State, which portrayed the measures as part of Trump’s campaign to strengthen immigration enforcement and give priority to American citizens.
Millions deported under Trump
According to the administration, more than three million illegal immigrants have been removed from the United States since Trump resumed office.
It said the deportees include thousands of people convicted of violent crimes.
The government also claimed that no illegal immigrants had been released into the US interior for 15 consecutive months.
The administration linked the development to an executive order Trump signed during his first week back in office.
The order declared a crisis at the southern border and directed federal authorities to take immediate steps against illegal crossings.
Citizenship rules face tighter scrutiny
The crackdown has extended beyond border enforcement, with the administration announcing a stronger approach to citizenship obtained through alleged fraud.
It said 88 people had so far become subjects of legal action after authorities determined they were allegedly not entitled to US citizenship.
The government described the move as part of an expanded denaturalisation campaign targeting people accused of obtaining citizenship improperly.
Changes have also been made to the US citizenship examination.
Officials said the revised test is intended to examine applicants’ knowledge of American history, government and national values more closely.
Benefits and voter records targeted
The administration said it had withdrawn taxpayer-funded assistance from more than 1.4 million illegal immigrants who it claimed were receiving public benefits improperly.
It also said those individuals had been excluded from more than 12 government-funded healthcare programmes.
Another area of the campaign involves voter registration.
According to the administration, authorities in several states have begun removing tens of thousands of people described as illegal immigrants from voter rolls.
The government maintained that participation in US elections is restricted to American citizens.
Visa screening tightened
The administration also announced restrictions affecting visa processing for 75 countries it described as high-risk.
It said the decision was aimed at improving national security, reducing visa overstays and strengthening background checks.
The government said existing visa programmes were also undergoing tighter screening as part of the broader immigration policy.
Warning for Nigerian travellers
The latest announcement comes amid repeated warnings from the US Mission in Nigeria to Nigerians travelling to America.
The Mission has urged visa holders to obey the conditions attached to their visas and avoid activities that could result in cancellation or removal from the United States.
It has specifically warned that criminal conduct, immigration fraud and overstaying could lead to visa revocation and deportation.
Nigerian travellers have also been advised to leave the US before their authorised period of stay ends and ensure their activities match the purpose for which their visas were issued.
Immigration is expected to remain a major political issue in the United States ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Trump administration is using its enforcement figures to promote its argument that the government’s immigration policy is restoring border control, tightening eligibility rules and reducing what it considers improper use of public resources.
