The U.S. State Department announced on Monday that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreigners since the start of President Donald Trump's second term in January 2025. Most of the revocations stemmed from incidents involving law enforcement, assaults, theft, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the State Department detailed in a statement.

The U.S. government emphasized that a visa to enter the United States "is a privilege, not a right," and warned that it will use "every resource available" to combat those it considers to be abusing that privilege. In January, when visa policy was tightened, the State Department had put the number of revoked visas at more than 100,000.

For crimes, but also for comments

Among the examples of foreigners whose visas have been revoked, the State Department cited cases of individuals accused of sexual assault, possession of graphic material related to child abuse, or public disorder, as well as several foreigners who celebrated the assassination last year of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

It also emerged that a U.S. embassy in North Africa canceled more than 100 visas belonging to so-called "birth tourists": people who travel to the United States so that their children are born there and automatically acquire U.S. citizenship. Trump also seeks to review this birthright citizenship policy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has likewise revoked visas on foreign policy grounds, including that of a Cuban citizen linked to an "influence operation" run by Havana, as well as Iranian citizens with ties to the ayatollahs' regime.

Stricter requirements

In recent months, the administration has deported an unprecedented number of migrants, including holders of valid visas. Stricter requirements for visa approval have also been implemented, including more thorough scrutiny of social media activity.

Human rights organizations have criticized these measures, viewing them as a restriction on freedom of expression and a form of surveillance specifically targeting immigrants.