The United States has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals under President Donald Trump’s administration, citing criminal activity, breaches of visa conditions, fraud and national security concerns. The figure is cumulative and does not mean 175,000 visas were cancelled on Monday alone; visa holders who are notified of a cancellation, or who are uncertain about their status, should check with an official US embassy or State Department channel before attempting to travel.
The US Department of State announced the figure on Monday as part of what it calls “continuous vetting” — the ongoing monitoring of people after visas have been issued to determine whether they still meet US immigration and security requirements.
The move forms part of the administration’s wider immigration crackdown, which has brought tighter screening and enforcement across several parts of the US immigration system.
According to the State Department, most of the visa cancellations followed encounters with law enforcement involving suspected criminal conduct.
Assault, driving under the influence of alcohol, theft and drug-related offences were among the main reasons given. Other cases involved reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement.
US steps up continuous checks on visa holders
Continuous vetting means US authorities can continue reviewing a foreign national after a visa has been granted rather than treating the original approval as the end of the screening process.
A visa revocation is different from a visa refusal. A refusal normally occurs when an application is being considered and a consular officer decides that the applicant does not qualify. Revocation involves a visa that has already been issued being cancelled after new information or circumstances emerge.
The State Department’s official visa guidance says criminal or drug activity, fraud, misrepresentation and previous immigration violations are among the issues that can make a person ineligible for a US visa.
However, the latest announcement does not suggest that every foreign national with a US visa is at risk of automatic cancellation. Decisions are linked to individual cases identified through vetting, law-enforcement information or other security and immigration checks.
Reuters independently reported that the 175,000-plus total forms part of a wider tightening of immigration enforcement under Trump. In January, the State Department had said more than 100,000 visas had already been revoked, including thousands involving people who had encounters with US law enforcement.
Serious criminal allegations among cases cited
The State Department highlighted several serious cases, including foreign nationals accused of rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, exploitation of minors and domestic violence.
It also referred to financial offences. One foreign national was accused of involvement in a healthcare fraud scheme involving more than $5 million in allegedly fraudulent Medicaid claims, while another was accused of falsifying company revenue and forging documents in an attempt to obtain a US visa.
These are allegations in individual cases cited by US officials and should not be treated as findings of guilt unless determined by a court.
More than 100 visas were also cancelled by a US embassy in North Africa in cases linked to alleged “birth tourism” — travelling to the United States primarily to give birth so that a child can acquire US citizenship.
The issue has become increasingly prominent in Trump’s immigration agenda. New Daily Prime recently reported on Trump’s new measures targeting birthright citizenship and birth tourism, including tighter visa screening intended to identify people suspected of travelling primarily for that purpose.
The administration has also made changes affecting people seeking permanent residence. Nigerian families and other foreign nationals have faced uncertainty over recent Green Card measures, another sign of the broader shift in US immigration policy.
The State Department said visa reviews would continue as authorities investigate people they believe may pose public-safety or national-security concerns.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said.
For travellers, the main point is that receiving a US visa does not end the screening process. Visa holders are expected to comply with the conditions attached to their visa and with US law throughout its validity.
Key words and subjects: US visa revocations, Donald Trump, US Department of State, continuous vetting, immigration enforcement, criminal offences, visa violations, national security, fraud, birth tourism, foreign nationals and US immigration policy.
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