The US has announced the cancelation of almost 175,000 visas awarded to foreign nationals during President Donald Trump’s administration, citing alleged violations of visa terms, criminal behavior, and national security risks.
In a statement released on Monday, the US Department of State stated that the majority of visa revocations were due to “law enforcement encounters involving criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug-related offenses among the leading causes.”
The government stated that further cancelations were due to “reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement, and other crimes.”
According to the State Department, the move was made as part of its ongoing continuous-vetting program, which aims to ensure that visa holders follow immigration regulations and do not pose a threat to the United States.
According to officials, some of those involved have been charged with significant crimes such as “felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse offenses, and domestic violence.”
The agency also revealed that a US consulate in North Africa invalidated more than 100 visas issued to parents accused of engaging in “birth tourism” by traveling to the United States primarily to give birth so that their children may earn American citizenship.
Other incidents listed by the agency included a foreign person arrested for allegedly driving with heroin and a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit, as well as individuals charged with fraud and other financial crimes.
According to the statement, one foreign national who disguised himself as running a legal healthcare-access firm reportedly assisted in the coordination of a Medicaid fraud operation involving more than $5 million in fraudulent billing.
In another example, a foreign individual was accused of faking company sales data and forging letters to defraud investors and obtain a US visa.
The department also cited examples involving foreign nationals who reportedly celebrated Charlie Kirk’s assassination, including words that appeared to encourage or praise his death.
According to the announcement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ruled that numerous foreign people are deportable due to foreign policy reasons.
These cases include a Cuban national allegedly linked to a Cuban communist regime influence operation, Iranian nationals with 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 State Department stated that it would continue to identify, investigate, and cancel visas for foreign nationals who are considered dangers to public safety.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department stated, adding that it would use available measures to protect American communities from people who abuse the immigration system.
