In a statement released on Monday, August 10, 2026, the department said the action was taken under its continuous-vetting program, which is designed to ensure that visa holders comply with US immigration rules and do not pose a threat to public safety.
According to the statement, the majority of the cancellations were linked to law enforcement encounters involving alleged violations of visa conditions. The department cited driving-related offenses including driving under the influence, theft, assault, drug crimes and other alleged criminal activity as among the leading reasons for the revocations.
Additional cancellations were attributed to concerns related to fraud, financial misconduct, and other violations of US law. Officials said the review process is intended to identify cases where visa holders may no longer meet the requirements for remaining in the United States.
The State Department said the visas were revoked from individuals who violated visa terms, committed crimes, called for violence against US citizens, defrauded Americans, abused the immigration system or endangered national security as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown.
The department also noted that a US embassy in North Africa had revoked more than 100 visas in cases linked to alleged misuse of visitor visas. The cases involved parents who were accused of traveling to the United States primarily to give birth so their children could obtain American citizenship, a practice often referred to as birth tourism.
DailyVista247 gathered that the department provided examples of cases under review, including a foreign national accused of driving under the influence of controlled substances and another case involving alleged large-scale billing fraud linked to a healthcare-access business.
Another case involved alleged misrepresentation of business financial records during the visa application process, which was discovered during the continuous vetting operation designed to maintain the integrity of the immigration system.
The statement also referred to cases involving foreign nationals who were found to have made public statements that appeared to support violence or celebrate the death of a public figure, which officials said could be grounds for revocation on foreign policy considerations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the department had identified several additional cases on foreign policy grounds, including individuals alleged to have links to foreign government influence operations and activities that could undermine US interests.
The State Department said it will continue to review visa cases through its vetting system and take action where it determines that a visa holder does not meet the conditions of their visa or has engaged in conduct that violates US law.
A US visa is a privilege, not a right, the department said in its statement, adding that it would continue to use available tools to protect public safety and maintain the integrity of the immigration system for all legitimate travelers.
The announcement marks one of the largest mass revocations of visas in recent American history, according to reports, as the Trump administration continues its sweeping immigration enforcement measures that have affected tens of thousands of foreign nationals.
Officials said the continuous vetting program will remain in place to ensure that visa holders comply with the conditions attached to their visas and do not pose a threat to Americans while in the United States.
