U.S. State Department Cancels 175,000 Visas, Including for Birth Tourism and Incitement to Violence

Over 100 Visas Canceled for "Birth Tourism"

Ongoing Screening Extended to Social Media Activities

The U.S. Department of State announced on August 10 (local time) that it has canceled more than 175,000 visas issued to foreigners since the launch of the Donald Trump administration. The large-scale cancellations were carried out for reasons including not only criminal offenses, but also visa condition violations, fraud, incitement to violence, abuse of the immigration system, and threats to national security.

U.S. Department of State website

In materials released on the same day, the Department of State stated that it has revoked over 175,000 visas through ongoing screening processes since the start of the Trump administration. The Department explained, “Continuous reviews were conducted to ensure that visa holders complied with visa conditions and did not endanger Americans.”

A significant number of visa cancellations occurred when foreigners came into contact with U.S. law enforcement and were found to have committed crimes. The Department cited assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug offenses as major reasons for cancellation, while also including reckless driving, sex crimes, child abuse, fraud, and embezzlement on the list.

Among the cases released by the Department were foreigners indicted for serious crimes such as rape and sexual assault, foreigners charged with kidnapping and human trafficking, and individuals prosecuted more than ten times for possession of child sexual exploitation materials.

The Department also disclosed crackdowns on so-called “birth tourism.” According to the Department of State, a U.S. embassy in North Africa canceled more than 100 visas for parents who gave birth in the U.S. with the intention of obtaining U.S. citizenship for their children.

Foreigners who posted celebratory messages in response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were also included among those whose visas were canceled. The Department stated that they canceled the visas of foreigners who wrote “Democrats don’t complain when fascists die,” as well as those who commented that Kirk “died too late.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited foreign policy grounds in determining that some foreigners should be expelled. The Department gave examples such as Cuban nationals linked to efforts to extend the influence of the Cuban communist regime, and Iranian nationals connected to the Iranian government.

The list also included a Laotian national convicted of child sex offenses who was pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and a Kuwaiti national who expressed hope for violence against the U.S. president and referred to Americans as his “enemies.”

The Department of State affirmed, “A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” declaring that all available means will continue to be used to revoke visas of foreigners who pose a threat to the safety of American society or to national security.

The scale of visa cancellations under the Trump administration is rising rapidly. The Department of State had already announced in January that over 100,000 visas had been canceled since the Trump administration took office. In the ensuing seven months, the cumulative total surpassed 175,000 cancellations.

The Trump administration is reinforcing scrutiny not only of illegal immigration but also of foreigners who obtained visas through legal channels. Crime records and social media activities are continually examined, and “ongoing reviews” are being expanded to cancel visas even after issuance on grounds of violations of conditions or national security threats.

In particular, activities such as “birth tourism,” where parents give birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for their children, are now being targeted through enhanced visa scrutiny, indicating tighter controls over legal pathways for entry into the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.