The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked more than 175,000 visas held by foreign nationals, citing criminal offences, breaches of immigration rules and concerns over public safety and national security.
The US Department of State disclosed this on Monday, saying the cancellations were largely triggered by encounters between visa holders and law enforcement agencies.
According to the department, the offences associated with the revocations included assault, driving under the influence, theft, drug-related offences and reckless driving.
Other grounds cited included sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other criminal activities.
The State Department said the action was part of an ongoing vetting process through which US authorities monitor foreign nationals holding American visas.
It said the process was intended to ensure that visa holders continued to meet the conditions under which their visas were issued and did not constitute a threat to Americans.
Some of the cases, the department said, involved allegations of serious crimes such as rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The department also disclosed that a US diplomatic mission in North Africa had revoked more than 100 visas issued to parents accused of travelling to the United States primarily to give birth in order to secure US citizenship for their children.
The State Department described such activity as “birth tourism”.
It also cited cases involving foreign nationals accused of drug-related and financial crimes.
One individual, according to the department, was arrested after allegedly being found driving with heroin while having a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
In another case, a foreign national accused of operating a legitimate business that helped vulnerable patients access healthcare was allegedly involved in a Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $5 million in fraudulent claims.
Another visa holder was accused of fabricating company revenues and forging documents to deceive investors and fraudulently secure a US visa.
The department further disclosed that some visa holders had their visas revoked over statements allegedly celebrating or endorsing the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Beyond criminal conduct, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has determined that some foreign nationals are deportable on foreign policy grounds, according to the department.
Among the cases cited was that of a Cuban national allegedly associated with an influence operation linked to the Cuban communist government.
The department also identified Iranian nationals allegedly connected to the Iranian government, a Laotian child sex offender who was pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and a Kuwaiti national accused of expressing a desire for violence against the US president.
The State Department said the visa revocation exercise would continue as part of efforts to protect US communities and enforce immigration regulations.
It warned that foreign nationals who violate the terms of their visas or engage in conduct considered harmful to American interests could face cancellation of their visas and other immigration consequences.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said.
It added that the US government would continue to deploy available measures to identify, investigate and remove foreign nationals considered threats to public safety or national security.
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