US State Department revokes 175,000 visas in sweeping immigration crackdown
Rights advocates warn expanded screening policies threaten free speech as visa revocations more than double since January
The US State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas held by foreign nationals, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy. The figure, detailed in a fact sheet released on Monday, represents a sharp increase from the more than 100,000 cancellations recorded in January of this year.
According to the department, the majority of these revocations stemmed from law-enforcement encounters involving criminal activity. Leading reasons for the cancellations included assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug offences. The department also cited visa violations, fraud, calls for violence and threats to national security as grounds for the actions.
Specific cases highlighted by the State Department involved serious felonies, including individuals charged with rape, sexual battery, kidnapping and human trafficking. One case involved a person facing more than a dozen counts of possessing child sexual abuse material. The department stated that continuous vetting operations ensure visa recipients abide by their terms and do not endanger Americans.
Beyond criminal convictions, the revocations targeted specific behavioural and administrative issues. A US embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas from parents of “birth tourists” who allegedly travelled to the United States primarily to secure citizenship for their children. Additionally, visas were cancelled from foreign nationals who celebrated the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including one individual who stated the activist “died too late” for the event.
The administration has simultaneously tightened policies on granting new visas, implementing expanded social media vetting and screening measures. Rights advocates and human rights experts have condemned these efforts, arguing they amount to surveillance and threaten free speech by singling out immigrants. The State Department maintained that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, and pledged to continue using available authorities to revoke visas from those who abuse it.
