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The United States has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals under President Donald Trump, citing criminal offences, immigration violations and national security concerns.
The US Department of State disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the cancellations were largely driven by law enforcement encounters involving visa holders accused of criminal activity.
According to the department, leading offences linked to the revocations included assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related crimes. Other cases involved reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement.
The State Department said the cancellations formed part of its continuous-vetting programme, through which US authorities monitor visa holders to ensure they comply with immigration requirements and do not pose threats to public safety or national security.
Some of the cases involved individuals accused of serious offences, including rape, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child abuse and domestic violence.
The department also disclosed that a US embassy in North Africa had revoked more than 100 visas belonging to parents accused of engaging in “birth tourism” by travelling to the US primarily to give birth and secure American citizenship for their children.
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Other cases cited included foreign nationals accused of drug-related offences, Medicaid fraud, financial crimes and providing false information to obtain US visas.
The State Department also said some visas were revoked over conduct considered threatening to US foreign-policy interests.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to the department, has determined that several foreign nationals are deportable on foreign-policy grounds, including individuals allegedly linked to foreign governments or accused of threatening violence against the US president.
Defending the sweeping enforcement action, the State Department said it would continue identifying and revoking visas held by foreign nationals considered threats to public safety.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said, stressing that the government would use available measures to protect American communities and prevent abuse of the immigration system.
