The U.S. State Department announced on March 24 that it has cancelled more than 175,000 visas for foreign nationals since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, as the administration's immigration crackdown continues to expand.
According to a document released by the State Department, most of the revoked visas stemmed from criminal activity recorded by law enforcement agencies, alongside visa condition violations, fraud, calls for violence, and other threats to national security.
The State Department emphasized: "Visa revocations are the result of ongoing vetting efforts to ensure visa recipients comply with the terms and pose no danger to the American people."
Among the leading reasons for visa cancellations were assault, drunk driving, theft, and drug offenses. Specific cases cited by the State Department included an individual charged with rape and sexual assault, another charged with kidnapping and human trafficking, and one person facing more than a dozen charges related to possession of child sexual abuse material.
A U.S. embassy in North Africa also revoked more than 100 visas from parents engaged in "birth tourism" — individuals believed to have traveled to the U.S. primarily to give birth so their children could gain American citizenship.
Additionally, some cancelled visas were linked to foreign nationals who made statements supporting the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including one person who said "when fascists die, the Democrats don't complain" and another who said he "died too late."
The State Department asserted that the Trump administration will continue to identify and investigate foreign nationals believed to threaten U.S. safety or national security. "A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right," the statement said.
Earlier, in January, the State Department had announced it had cancelled more than 100,000 visas, which was considered a record at the time. The administration has also adopted stricter visa policies, including enhanced social media screening and expanded checks.
Rights advocates and human rights experts have condemned the Trump administration's social media vetting measures, arguing they threaten free speech, resemble surveillance activities, and unfairly target immigrants.
