The United States government has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals under President Donald Trump’s administration over alleged visa violations, criminal activity and security concerns.
The US Department of State disclosed this in a statement, saying most of the visa revocations resulted from law enforcement encounters involving criminal offences.
It listed assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences among the leading reasons for the cancellations. Other cases involved reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other crimes.
According to the department, the revocations were carried out as part of its continuous vetting process aimed at ensuring that visa holders comply with the conditions of their visas and do not pose a threat to the American public.
The State Department said some of the affected individuals had been charged with serious offences, including rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
It also disclosed that a US embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas issued to parents accused of engaging in “birth tourism” by travelling to the United States primarily to give birth so their children could acquire US citizenship.
Other cases cited by the department included a foreign national allegedly arrested while driving with heroin and a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, as well as individuals accused of fraud and other financial crimes.
The department said one foreign national who claimed to operate a legitimate business helping vulnerable patients access healthcare was allegedly involved in a Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $5 million in fraudulent billing.
Another individual was accused of falsifying company revenue and forging letters to deceive investors and fraudulently obtain a US visa.
The State Department also cited cases involving foreign nationals who allegedly celebrated or appeared to endorse the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
It further said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had determined that several foreign nationals were deportable on foreign policy grounds.
Those cases reportedly included a Cuban national allegedly linked to an influence operation connected to Cuba’s communist government, Iranian nationals with alleged ties to the Iranian government, a Laotian child sex offender pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and a Kuwaiti national accused of expressing a desire for violence against the US president and referring to Americans as his “enemy.”
The department said it would continue to identify, investigate and revoke the visas of foreign nationals considered threats to public safety.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said, stressing that it would continue to use available measures to protect American communities from individuals who abuse the immigration system.
