The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday that it is conducting a review of over 55 million foreign nationals who hold valid U.S. visas. This review aims to identify potential violations of immigration rules that could lead to visa revocation or deportation.

In a written response to an inquiry, the department stated that all visa holders are subject to "continuous vetting." This process seeks to uncover any indications that a visa holder may be ineligible for their visa. If any such information is discovered, the visa will be revoked. If the individual is currently in the United States, they may face deportation.

The State Department is specifically looking for signs of ineligibility, which include visa overstays, criminal activity, threats to public safety, involvement in terrorist activities, or providing support to terrorist organizations.

"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 department explained.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the administration has focused on deporting undocumented migrants and holders of student and visitor exchange visas. The recent announcement indicates a significant expansion of the re-vetting process, which was initially concentrated on students involved in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel activities.

The review will encompass all visa holders' social media accounts, law enforcement and immigration records from their home countries, and any violations of U.S. law committed while in the country.

The State Department noted that since Inauguration Day, it has revoked more than twice as many visas compared to the same period last year, including nearly four times as many student visas. Earlier this week, the department reported that over 6,000 student visas have been revoked due to overstays and violations of local, state, and federal laws. Most of these violations were related to assault, driving under the influence, and support for terrorism. Approximately 4,000 of the revoked visas were due to actual infractions, while 200 to 300 were linked to terrorism-related issues.