The Trump administration cancels 175,000+ US visas over criminal offences, fraud and more – here is why yours could be at risk

• More than 175,000 US visas have been revoked under President Donald Trump.

• Revocations include criminal cases, fraud, birth tourism and alleged security threats.

• The State Department is also targeting some visa holders over speech and foreign-policy concerns.

The U.S. Department of State says it has revoked more than 175,000 visas since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, as his administration expands continuous vetting of foreign nationals.

The figure, announced on August 10, 2026, represents a significant increase from the more than 100,000 visa cancellations the department had previously reported.

The State Department says the revocations are part of its effort to ensure that visa holders comply with US law and do not pose risks to public safety or national security.

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The State Department said the majority of cancellations followed law-enforcement encounters.

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The leading reasons included assault, driving under the influence (DUI), theft and drug offences.

Other cases involved reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement.

The department also cited foreign nationals who had been arrested or charged in cases involving serious allegations, including sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Here are some of the reasons why your US visa could be at risk:

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More than 100 visas were revoked by a US embassy in North Africa involving parents accused of engaging in so-called birth tourism, travelling to the US primarily to give birth so their children could obtain US citizenship.

The action comes against the backdrop of Trump's broader efforts to restrict the use of the US immigration system for birth tourism.

The department also cited visa cancellations involving alleged multi-million-dollar Medicaid fraud and schemes involving falsified business documents.

The administration has also cited speech and political activity in some revocation decisions.

The State Department said it revoked visas belonging to foreign nationals who celebrated the September 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Among the comments cited by the department were remarks that Kirk “died too late” and that “when fascists die, democrats don't complain.”

The administration has faced criticism from immigration and civil-rights advocates over speech-based vetting, particularly where social media activity is involved. 

The revocations are not limited to criminal conduct.

The State Department said it had taken action against foreign nationals linked to Cuban and Iranian government influence operations.

It also cited a Kuwaiti national accused of wishing violence against President Trump and describing Americans as his enemies.

Another high-profile case involved Tou Lue Vang, a Laotian national and sex offender who had previously been pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 

The State Department highlighted his case as part of its foreign-policy-related enforcement actions.

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The latest figures show that getting a US visa does not mean a foreign national is permanently protected from further scrutiny.

The State Department has expanded continuous vetting and online-presence screening for certain visa applicants, while other Trump administration measures have introduced visa restrictions and suspensions affecting nationals of several countries. 

For Nigerians and other travellers with US visas, complying with the terms of your visa matters even after it has been issued.

The State Department says it will continue reviewing visa holders and revoking visas where it determines that individuals no longer meet the requirements or pose public-safety, national-security or foreign-policy concerns.