The U.S. Department of State has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals accused of violating visa terms, committing crimes, engaging in fraud, supporting violence, or posing national security concerns.
The State Department announced the figure on August 10 in a fact sheet outlining its ongoing visa-vetting efforts under President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
According to the department, most of the visa revocations resulted from encounters with law enforcement over alleged criminal activity. The leading categories were assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offenses.
The department also cited visa revocations involving allegations of reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement.
“Under President Trump, the United States Department of State has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals who violated the terms of their visas, committed crimes, called for violence against U.S. citizens, defrauded Americans, abused our immigration system, or endangered national security,” the department said.
State Department Cites Criminal Cases, Fraud and Birth Tourism
The fact sheet highlighted individual cases the department said resulted in visa revocations and deportability determinations.
Among them were foreign nationals charged with offenses including felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of a minor, child sexual abuse material offenses and aggravated sexual battery.
The department also cited cases involving domestic violence, resisting arrest, drug possession and impaired driving.
In one case, the State Department said a foreign national was arrested while driving with heroin and a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
The department also said a U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas involving parents it described as “birth tourists.” According to the State Department, the parents traveled to the United States primarily to give birth so their children would obtain U.S. citizenship.
The fact sheet also listed fraud cases. One foreign national allegedly helped orchestrate a Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $5 million in purportedly fake services, while another allegedly fabricated business revenue and forged documents to defraud investors and obtain a visa.
In another case, the department said a foreign national who came to the United States to teach young students was later arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a student.
The allegations described by the State Department are not equivalent to criminal convictions in every case; the department’s fact sheet frequently refers to people who were charged or arrested.
Visa Revocations Tied to Alleged Threats and Political Activity
The department also said it revoked visas belonging to foreign nationals who allegedly celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk. It cited several social media statements, including comments celebrating Kirk’s death.
The State Department further said Rubio had determined that several foreign nationals were deportable on foreign-policy grounds. Those cases included individuals the department said had connections to the Cuban communist regime, the Iranian government or other foreign interests.
The department also cited a Laotian child sex offender who had received a pardon from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and a Kuwaiti national whom it accused of expressing a desire for violence against Trump and referring to Americans as his “enemy.”
State Department: Visa Is a Privilege, Not a Right
The department said the revocations are part of continuous vetting intended to determine whether visa holders continue to meet the requirements for remaining in the United States.
“Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the State Department will continue to identify, investigate, and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who threaten the safety of the American people,” the department said.
The agency emphasized that obtaining a U.S. visa does not guarantee permanent admission or continued eligibility to remain in the country.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the State Department said, adding that it intends to use available authorities to protect Americans and address cases involving people who abuse the immigration system.
