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The US State Department said Monday that the Trump administration has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals as part of its sweeping immigration crackdown.
The department said the revocations targeted individuals who had violated visa conditions, committed crimes, called for violence against US citizens, defrauded Americans, abused the immigration system or posed risks to national security.
Most of the visa cancellations followed encounters with US law enforcement, with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences cited as the leading reasons, according to the State Department.
The department also highlighted several individual cases, including people charged with felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping and human trafficking, and possession of child sexual abuse material.
In another case, a US embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas from parents accused of travelling to the United States primarily to give birth so their children could obtain US citizenship.
The State Department also said it had revoked visas belonging to several foreign nationals accused of celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, including one who reportedly said he “died too late.”
In January, the department said it had revoked more than 100,000 visas, which was a record at the time.
The latest figures highlight the scale of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement drive since the president returned to the White House. The administration has also tightened visa screening, including expanded social media checks and other forms of vetting.
Rights advocates and human rights experts have criticised the measures, arguing that expanded social media screening could undermine free speech and lead to increased surveillance and targeting of immigrants.