The United States government says it has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals under President Donald Trump’s administration over alleged visa violations, criminal offences and security concerns.
In a statement released on Monday, the US Department of State said most of the visa cancellations resulted from “law enforcement encounters involving criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences among the leading causes”.
The department added that visas had also been revoked over “reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other crimes”.
According to the department, the cancellations were carried out as part of its continuous visa-vetting process, which is designed to ensure that visa holders comply with the conditions attached to their visas and do not pose threats to US citizens.
It said some individuals whose visas were revoked had faced serious criminal allegations, including “felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse offences and domestic violence”.
The State Department also disclosed that a US embassy in North Africa had 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 obtain US citizenship.
Other cases involved a foreign national allegedly caught driving with heroin while having a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, as well as people accused of fraud and other financial offences.
The department said one foreign national who claimed to operate a legitimate business helping vulnerable patients obtain healthcare was allegedly involved in a Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $5 million in fraudulent claims.
Another individual was accused of falsifying company revenue and forging letters to mislead investors and fraudulently secure a US visa, according to the department.
The State Department also referenced cases involving foreign nationals who allegedly celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, including people who made comments interpreted as endorsing or celebrating his death.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also determined that several foreign nationals are deportable on foreign policy grounds, the department said.
Those cases include a Cuban national allegedly linked to an influence operation associated with the Cuban communist regime, Iranian nationals with alleged connections to the Iranian government, a Laotian child sex offender who was 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 of State said it would continue investigating foreign nationals and revoking visas where individuals are considered threats to public safety.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said, adding that it would use available measures to protect American communities from individuals who abuse the immigration system.