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The United States says it has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals under President Donald Trump administration for allegedly violating visa conditions, committing crimes, or posing security threats.
In a statement issued on Monday, the US Department of State (DoS) said the majority of the visa revocations followed “law enforcement encounters involving criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences among the leading causes”.
It added that visas were also revoked over “reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other crimes”.
According to the department, the revocations were carried out through its continuous vetting operations designed to ensure that visa holders comply with the terms of their visas and do not pose a threat to Americans.
It said some of those whose visas were revoked had been charged with serious offences, including “felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse offences and domestic violence”.
The DoS added 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 US primarily to give birth so their children could obtain US citizenship.
Other cases involved a foreign national arrested for allegedly driving with heroin while having a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, as well as individuals accused of fraud and financial crimes.
The department said one foreign national who claimed to run a legitimate business helping vulnerable patients access healthcare allegedly helped orchestrate a Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $5 million in fraudulent billing.
Another foreign national allegedly fabricated company revenue and forged letters to deceive investors and fraudulently obtain a US visa, it said.
The department also cited cases involving foreign nationals who allegedly celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, including individuals who made statements appearing to endorse or celebrate his death.
The department said Marco Rubio, secretary of state, has also determined that several foreign nationals are deportable on foreign policy grounds.
Those cases include a Cuban national allegedly connected to a Cuban communist regime influence operation, Iranian nationals with links 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 DoS 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, adding that it would use available measures to protect American communities from people who abuse the immigration system.
