The US State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas held by foreign nationals. These revocations took place during US President Donald Trump’s second term. The US administration stated that these travel and immigration privileges were withdrawn as part of a strict immigration policy. Al Jazeera Online reported this news. According to data released by the State Department, the majority of the 175,000-plus visas were revoked due to criminal activities involving law enforcement issues.
Additionally, measures were taken for violations of visa regulations, fraud, incitement to violence, and activities posing a threat to national security. A significant portion of the revocations stemmed from offenses such as assault, drunk driving, theft, and drug-related crimes. Visas were also revoked for individuals involved in crimes like sexual assault, child abuse, and fraud. Citing specific examples, the department noted that the list included individuals accused of heinous rape, human trafficking, kidnapping, and the possession of child abuse material. The Trump administration stated that these revocations resulted from the State Department’s ongoing vetting process, designed to ensure visa holders comply with visa conditions and do not endanger Americans. A US embassy in North Africa revoked the visas of over 100 parents who had traveled to the country for “birth tourism”—seeking US citizenship for their children by birth. Visas were also revoked for individuals who celebrated or mocked the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media.
Notably, the administration had announced the revocation of over 100,000 visas last January, which was a record at the time. Strict scrutiny of social media is part of the current administration’s broader crackdown. However, human rights activists and experts argue that such social media surveillance threatens freedom of expression and amounts to the unnecessary targeting of immigrants.
