The U.S. State Department announced Monday that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas during President Donald Trump's administration. The majority of these visas were rescinded due to encounters with law enforcement for criminal activity, including assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug offenses.
The department stated that a significant portion of the revoked visas were also due to reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement, and other crimes. In its announcement, the State Department highlighted examples of individuals whose visas were canceled, including a foreign national charged with felony rape and sexual battery, and another charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Additionally, the State Department cited instances of "birth tourism," where visas were revoked for parents who traveled to the U.S. primarily to give birth, thereby obtaining U.S. citizenship for their children. An embassy in North Africa reportedly revoked over 100 visas for such cases.
A statement from the State Department emphasized its commitment to identifying and revoking visas of foreign nationals who pose a threat to American safety. The department reiterated that a U.S. visa is considered a privilege, not a right, and pledged to continue utilizing all available tools to protect communities from those who abuse the immigration system. The announcement was made less than two years into Trump's second term.