'Fear is the goal': Trump's U.S. visa review unnerves immigration advocates on Long Island
- Joe Werkmeister and Bart Jones
- Aug 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 19
Immigrant advocates on Friday described the Trump administration’s announcement to expand its review of all current U.S. visa holders as the latest crackdown intended to snuff out free speech and criticism of the administration.
The U.S. State Department, in an emailed statement to Newsday on Friday, said its "continuous vetting includes all of the more than 55 million foreigners who currently hold valid U.S. visas" and that it could revoke visas if there are "indications of a potential ineligibility."
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that processes immigration and naturalization applications, issued a policy alert Tuesday saying it would vet immigrants "who promote anti-American ideologies or activities" as well as "antisemitic ideologies."
Andrea Rodriguez, an immigration attorney based in Bohemia, said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement already has the power to deport or suspend a person’s visa or green card if they commit a crime. What appears new is the addition of restrictions on speech and how that can affect immigrants or visitors.
"I think now the only difference is they’re adding this anti-American, antisemitism ... terrorist groups," she said. She said the definition of "anti-American" is not clearly defined.
The Associated Press reported the reviews will include all visa holders’ social media accounts in addition to law enforcement and immigration records in their home countries.
Temporary visas are broken down into two main categories: nonimmigrant and immigrant.
Nonimmigrant visas include tourists, academic and vocational students, business visitors, exchange visitors and several other categories. Immigrant visas include a spouse of a U.S. citizen, certain family members of U.S. citizens and employment-based immigrants.
The temporary visas differ from a green card, also known as a Permanent Resident Card, which allows a person to live and work permanently in the United States.
The State Department did not provide a breakdown of the more than 55 million total visas by type or current residence in the United States. A spokesperson said the department revokes visas where there are indications of potential ineligibility, "which includes things like any indicators of overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity, or providing support to a terrorist organization."
Specific data on the number of visa holders on Long Island was unavailable. In 2024, the department issued 612,258 immigrant visas and 10.9 million nonimmigrant visas, according to a State Department summary report for the fiscal year. About 77% of the nonimmigrant visas were issued for temporary business and tourist visas.
"Fear is the goal," said Minerva Perez, executive director of the nonprofit Latino advocacy group OLA of Eastern Long Island, adding the message from the administration is for people "to keep quiet, keep your mouth shut."
She said the latest initiative demonstrates how the immigration crackdown has expanded beyond the stated goal of removing violent criminals.
"If you are searching to find ways to make everyone a criminal, then that’s what you’re doing," she said. "If you’re doing this, it kind of demonstrates to me as an immigrant advocate that you’ve run out of the real bad guys. Now you’re looking for anyone to fulfill the quota."
The State Department has revoked "more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, as during the same time period last year," a spokesperson said.
Dave Hensen, a Miller Place veterinarian who hosts events for international students in the Stony Brook University International Friends and Family Program, said there's a "general anxiety" among students.
He said in his opinion, international students should "just stay out of the limelight."
Comments