The Trump administration has revoked more than 300,000 U.S. visas since President Donald Trump returned to office, according to the State Department, accelerating the government's widespread immigration crackdown.
Tommy Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the administration "has revoked more visas at a faster pace than any administration in history."
He said the government had "zero tolerance" for foreign nationals on visas who break the law, commit fraud or undermine national security. The department previously reported more than 175,000 revocations as of August 10. In January, the department reported more than 100,000 visa revocations.
"We are taking, and will continue to take, action to keep our borders, and our nation, secure," Pigott said.
Newsweek has contacted the State Department for comment via email.
Trump's immigration crackdown has sought to restrict both illegal and legal immigration, with widespread arrests and deportations alongside new constraints on legal pathways into the country.
Legal immigration has fallen by roughly half under policies adopted this year, while the administration has slashed refugee admissions and prioritized white South Africans for resettlement. Trump's White House has made an effort to clamp down on birth tourism and visa fraud.
The GOP-controlled House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, commenting on the revocation of the 300,000 visas, wrote on social media, "This is a great victory for our national security."
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Why Is the Trump Administration Revoking Visas?
A State Department official told Al Jazeera that the "vast majority" of revocations stemmed from "criminal activity, public-safety concerns, immigration violations, fraud or misrepresentation, or other information indicating the individual was no longer eligible for a visa."
Of the visas revoked, 25 percent were connected to assault and related crimes and 22 percent to driving under the influence, the official said. Theft accounted for 7 percent and substance abuse or distribution for another 7 percent. More than 4,000 revocations involved people the department said had engaged in or facilitated "birth tourism."
The State Department has not released a comprehensive breakdown of the 300,000 revocations by nationality or visa category, leaving unclear which groups of foreign nationals have been most affected.
The administration has also expanded social media vetting and screening of visa applicants and holders, drawing criticism from civil and immigrant-rights advocates over visa revocations linked to pro-Palestinian protests and social media activity, as well as concerns about surveillance, due process, free speech and racial profiling.
What Happens When a US Visa Is Revoked?
A visa revocation generally prevents the holder from using the document to travel to the United States. Federal regulations allow authorized State Department officials to revoke visas, including provisionally while eligibility is reviewed. Department guidance says, when practicable, officials should notify the visa holder and allow them to present information opposing the decision.
The consequences vary depending on the individual's circumstances. Those outside the United States may be unable to travel using their revoked visa, while those already in the country may retain their existing immigration status unless separate action is taken.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Shakeema Edwards.