It is a figure that shows part of the scope of President Donald Trump’s immigration offensive: more than 175,000 visas of foreign citizens have been revoked since he began his second term in January 2025, the State Department reported. Most of the cancellations, according to authorities, occurred after encounters with law enforcement related to various crimes, although the government also points to cases of fraud, non-compliance with visa conditions, calls for violence, and national security issues.
The figure means that the strong pace of visa cancellations continues, as in January the figure was placed at 100,000 visas revoked up to that point. The cancellations are part, according to the agency itself, of an ongoing process of reviewing foreigners who hold these permits to determine if they continue to meet the conditions under which they were granted.
The U.S. government cites among the main causes of revocations assaults, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, thefts, and drug-related crimes. One of those cases mentioned by the government was, for example, a foreigner detained while driving with heroin and a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
It also detailed cases of sexual assault, child abuse, embezzlement, and fraud, such as a foreigner whom the government accused of participating in a scheme to bill more than five million dollars for allegedly false services to Medicaid. In another case, the State Department stated that a foreigner used false information and forged documents to obtain a visa after deceiving investors and clients.
However, human rights organizations warn that many of these revocations are based on accusations or detentions without conviction and that the process lacks sufficient transparency and guarantees. They also argue that the government sometimes revokes visas considering an approach that mixes very different situations.
There was, for example, an instance in which a U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas of parents who, according to the State Department, traveled to the country mainly to give birth with the aim that their children would obtain U.S. citizenship.
In another, the government suspended the visas of several foreigners who, according to authorities, expressed approval of the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. And, in an additional case, Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that several foreigners could have their visas canceled and be expelled for foreign policy reasons. Among the cases mentioned by the department are citizens linked to the governments of Cuba and Iran, as well as people accused of other conduct that U.S. authorities considered contrary to their interests.
The Trump administration has also strengthened the visa granting process, with a broader review of applicants and greater scrutiny of their social media activity. These measures have received criticism from human rights organizations, which consider that social media review can affect freedom of expression and increase surveillance of migrants.
The State Department maintains that its reviews seek to identify people who violate the conditions of their visas or who may pose a risk to public or national security. The administration has also defended the revocations as part of its strategy to strengthen immigration control.
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