The Trump administration has revoked more than 175,000 visas held by foreign nationals since President Donald Trump returned to office, a sharp escalation in the government's scrutiny of legal immigration as the State Department expands continuous vetting of people authorized to travel to the United States.
The State Department announced the figure late on Monday, saying visas had been canceled for people accused of violating the conditions of their visas, committing crimes, calling for violence against U.S. citizens, defrauding Americans, abusing the immigration system, or posing national security concerns.
The majority of the revocations resulted from what the department described as law enforcement encounters involving criminal activity. Assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug offenses were among the leading reasons cited. Officials said other cases involved reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, and embezzlement.
The new total illustrates how rapidly the administration's visa enforcement campaign has expanded. In January, the government said it had revoked more than 100,000 visas during the previous year, which was already described as a record. The latest figure brings the number of revocations during Trump's second term to more than 175,000.
"A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right," the State Department said as it outlined the effort, adding that it would continue using its authority against foreign nationals it determines have abused the immigration system or pose a threat to Americans.
The crackdown, however, extends beyond people accused of conventional crimes.
The administration has increasingly used visa authority as a foreign policy and national security tool, including against foreigners accused of endorsing political violence. The State Department said visas were revoked from multiple foreign nationals who celebrated the September 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
That approach has fueled criticism from immigration and civil liberties advocates, particularly over cases involving political speech. Critics have argued that revoking visas based on statements or social media activity risks punishing foreigners for expression that would ordinarily receive broad constitutional protection if made by U.S. citizens. The administration, meanwhile, has defended expanded screening as necessary to protect national security and public safety.
The State Department has also targeted alleged immigration fraud networks.
Officials said a U.S. embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas belonging to parents accused of participating in "birth tourism," in which foreign nationals travel to the United States primarily to give birth so their children receive U.S. citizenship. Separately, officials said authorities uncovered a network in West Africa involving more than 100 foreign nationals allegedly using fraudulent documents and visa "fixers" to obtain U.S. visas for the same purpose.
Some of the cases highlighted by the administration involve far more serious criminal allegations, including felony rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of minors. The State Department also cited a case involving a person allegedly found driving with heroin while having a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
The visa campaign is part of a broader shift in how the Trump administration is policing not only unauthorized immigration but also foreigners who entered or sought to enter the country legally.
The State Department has intensified security and social media screening while employing what it calls "continuous vetting," meaning scrutiny does not necessarily end when a visa is approved. New information about criminal activity, security concerns, fraud or other potential grounds for ineligibility can trigger a review after a visa has already been issued.
A visa itself does not guarantee admission to the United States. It generally allows a foreign national to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request permission to enter, while immigration authorities retain authority over admission.
