The State Department says it has revoked more than 175,000 visas under President Donald Trump’s administration so far, marking a sweeping immigration enforcement move that the department says targets foreign nationals who broke U.S. rules or threatened public safety. The announcement came Monday, less than two years into Trump’s second term, and underscores how aggressively the administration is using visa authority as part of its broader crackdown.
According to the department, the cancellations have involved foreign nationals who violated visa terms, committed crimes, encouraged violence against Americans, defrauded U.S. citizens, abused the immigration system, or posed risks to national security. Officials said most of the revocations followed law enforcement encounters tied to criminal activity. The leading causes included assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug offenses, while other cases involved reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, and embezzlement.
The department also highlighted several examples of cases it said led to revocations. Those included a foreign national charged with felony rape and sexual battery, including against a victim who was mentally disabled, and another foreign national charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation of a minor. In its statement, the department used those cases to illustrate the kinds of allegations it says are prompting action against visa holders.
Another area of focus has been birth tourism, where foreign visitors travel to the United States primarily to give birth so their children can obtain U.S. citizenship. The State Department said a U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas for parents it described as birth tourists. That step shows the administration is treating visa enforcement not only as a law-and-order issue, but also as part of its effort to curb perceived abuse of the immigration system.
