The State Department announced Monday it has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals since President Donald Trump took office for his second term.
“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 in a statement.
The figure covers a span of less than two years since Trump’s second term began.
Department officials said the majority of revocations trace back to law enforcement encounters. Assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug crimes ranked as the leading causes. Reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, and embezzlement also factored into the total.
The department cited specific cases to illustrate the scope of the crackdown. One example involved “a foreign national who was charged with felony rape and sexual battery, including of a victim who was mentally disabled.” Another described “a foreign national charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation of a minor.”
Birth tourism also appeared among the categories targeted. “A U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked over 100 visas for ‘birth tourist’ parents who came to the United States primarily to give birth so their children would get U.S. citizenship,” the department said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has overseen the effort alongside Trump. “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. “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The Department remains committed to using every tool available to protect our communities from those who abuse it.”
The announcement adds to a string of immigration enforcement actions from the administration this year, including executive orders targeting birthright citizenship and birth tourism following a Supreme Court setback, and the revocation of a Brazilian ambassador’s visa amid a diplomatic dispute.
Trump campaigned in 2024 on tightening visa vetting and expanding the criteria for revocation, arguing prior administrations had let the system become a workaround for people seeking to skip standard immigration channels. The State Department’s Monday statement did not specify how many of the 175,000 revocations resulted in the visa holder’s departure from the country versus voluntary compliance.
