The State Department under President Donald Trump has canceled more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals accused of a wide range of criminal offenses since the beginning of last year, including violent crimes, fraud, theft, drunk driving, immigration violations, and threats to national security.
State Department officials said this week that many of the visa revocations have involved individuals accused of assault, driving under the influence, theft, drug-related offenses, fraud, immigration violations, and activities deemed harmful to U.S. national security.
Officials added that numerous visas have also been revoked from foreign nationals accused of crimes such as child abuse, assault, embezzlement, and reckless driving.
Among the cases cited by the department was a foreign national whose visa was revoked after being charged with rape and battery involving a mentally disabled victim. Another individual lost visa privileges after being charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking, and exploitation of a minor.
Officials also highlighted several other examples of recent visa revocations.
One case involved a foreign national arrested on charges including disorderly conduct, violently resisting arrest, driving under the influence, and domestic violence.
At a U.S. embassy in North Africa, officials revoked more than 100 visas issued to so-called “birth tourists”—parents who allegedly traveled to the United States primarily so their children would be born with American citizenship.
Another foreign national had a visa revoked after being charged with sodomy of a child and aggravated battery.
In another case, authorities revoked the visa of a foreign national charged with more than a dozen counts involving possession of child sexual abuse material.
Another individual lost visa privileges after being arrested while allegedly driving with heroin in the vehicle and a blood alcohol concentration more than three times the legal limit.
The State Department also revoked visas belonging to several foreign nationals who publicly celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, including one who wrote, “when fascists die, democrats don’t complain,” and another who stated that he “died too late.”
Officials also pointed to the case of a foreign national who claimed to run a legitimate business assisting vulnerable patients with healthcare but was allegedly involved in orchestrating a Medicaid fraud scheme that billed more than $5 million for services that were never provided.
In another example, a foreign national allegedly created a business through fraudulent means by fabricating revenue figures and deceiving investors out of millions of dollars. According to officials, the individual also used forged documents and false claims to obtain a U.S. visa.
The department also revoked the visa of a foreign national who entered the United States to teach children but was later arrested for allegedly assaulting one of the students.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has separately revoked visas held by foreign nationals whom the administration considers threats to national security, including a Cuban national with ties to the communist regime.
The crackdown has also included Iranian nationals with alleged ties to the Iranian regime, a Laotian child sex offender who had previously received a pardon from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and a Kuwaiti national accused of expressing support for violence against President Trump while referring to Americans as the “enemy.”
