State Department Revokes More Than 175,000 Visas Under Trump Administration in Major Crackdown

The U.S. State Department announced Monday that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office, marking a major escalation in enforcement less than two years into his second term. Officials said the bulk of these actions targeted foreign nationals who broke the rules of their stay, committed crimes, called for violence against Americans, defrauded people, abused the immigration system or put national security at risk.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott noted that more than 100,000 of the revocations came through the department’s continuous vetting program. The leading reasons involved law enforcement encounters for assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug crimes. A large share also covered reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement.

The department shared several examples of the kinds of cases that led to action. One foreign national faced felony rape and sexual battery charges, including against a victim who was mentally disabled. Another was charged with felony kidnapping, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor. Additional cases involved individuals arrested for disorderly conduct paired with violence, drunk driving and domestic violence, along with people charged with child sex offenses or possession of large amounts of child sexual abuse material.

Officials also highlighted a U.S. embassy in North Africa that pulled more than 100 visas from so-called birth tourist parents who traveled primarily to give birth so their children would automatically receive U.S. citizenship. Other revocations targeted people who celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, including those who posted comments such as “when fascists die, democrats don’t complain” and “he died too late.” Cases of large-scale fraud appeared as well, including a $5 million Medicaid billing scheme and someone who faked business revenue and forged documents to secure a visa.

In a statement the department said, “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.” It added that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right, and that the department remains committed to using every available tool to protect communities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also used foreign policy grounds to find certain individuals deportable, including people linked to influence operations by the Cuban and Iranian regimes, a child sex offender previously pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and a Kuwaiti national who wished violence on the U.S. president and called Americans his “enemy.”

The department made clear it will keep identifying, investigating and pulling visas from anyone who threatens the safety of the American people under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rubio.