The United States has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals under President Donald Trump’s administration, citing criminal offences, violations of visa conditions and national security concerns.
The US Department of State disclosed this in a statement published on its website on Monday.
According to the department, most of the visa cancellations resulted from “law enforcement encounters involving criminal activity”, with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences among the leading causes.
Other cancellations were linked to reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other criminal offences, the department said.
The State Department explained that the revocations were part of its continuous-vetting programme, which monitors visa holders for compliance with US immigration requirements and identifies individuals deemed to pose potential threats to national security.
It said some of the cases involved individuals charged with serious offences, including felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
The department also disclosed that a US embassy in North Africa had revoked more than 100 visas issued to parents accused of engaging in “birth tourism” — travelling to the United States primarily to give birth so their children could obtain American citizenship.
Among other cases cited was that of a foreign national allegedly caught driving with heroin while having a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
The State Department said the ongoing visa review process was aimed at ensuring that foreign nationals in the United States continued to meet the conditions under which their visas were issued.
