The U. S. Department of State (DOS) announced that it revoked over 175,000 visas since the start of President Trump’s second term in January of 2025. In a press release on August 10, 2026, the Department said that visas were revoked on foreign nationals who have been accused of criminal activity, inciting violence against Americans, defrauding U.S. citizens or otherwise endangering national security. New York Times reported, these numbers can’t be independently verified right now, since the Department didn’t release names, nationalities, or other identifying details about the people affected.
Main Causes of Revocation
Most of the revocations trace back to law enforcement encounters, with these standing out as the most common:
- Assault.
- Driving under the influence.
- Theft.
- Drug offenses.
A smaller but still significant share came from reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, and embezzlement charges. The Department also cited crackdowns on what it described as birth tourism networks. One U.S. embassy in North Africa canceled more than 100 visas from parents who entered the country to give birth to children who would then gain citizenship.
The Department also revoked visas from people it accused of celebrating the death of Charlie Kirk, unrelated to criminal activity. Separately, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made several individual decisions on national security grounds, such as a Cuban citizen involved in what was described as an influence operation by the Cuban government and Iranians affiliated with the Iranian government.
What This Means
Think carefully before you tweet incitements to violence against Americans or U.S. officials, even if you think it’s “just joking.” As has already happened once this administration, that behavior by itself has been grounds for revocation. In general, they are cracking down on enforcement, so even arrest (let alone conviction) now can lead to revocation. And again in general, if you are a national from a DOS-designated “high risk” country, you’re more likely to be scrutinized.
As always, ILBSG actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, it’s particularly critical you get the right advice.