The United States has revoked more than 175,000 visas granted to foreign nationals during the presidency of Donald Trump, following allegations of violations of visa conditions, criminal behaviour and threats to national security.

In a statement issued on Monday, the US Department of State disclosed that the bulk of the cancellations stemmed from “law enforcement encounters involving criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences among the leading causes.”

According to the department, further revocations were tied to “reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other crimes.”

The State Department explained that the measure forms part of its continuous-vetting programme, designed to ensure visa holders abide by immigration regulations and pose no danger to the United States.

Officials disclosed that some of those affected face serious criminal charges, including “felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse offences and domestic violence.”

The department also revealed that a US embassy in North Africa cancelled more than 100 visas belonging to parents accused of engaging in “birth tourism,” a practice in which individuals travel to the US mainly to give birth so their children can acquire American citizenship.

Among other cases highlighted by the department was that of a foreign national arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of heroin with a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit, alongside others accused of fraud and related financial offences.

One foreign national who claimed to run a legitimate healthcare-access business allegedly assisted in coordinating a Medicaid fraud scheme worth over $5 million in fraudulent billing, the statement said.

In a separate case, a foreign national was accused of falsifying company revenue figures and forging documents to deceive investors and unlawfully obtain a US visa.

The department additionally referenced instances where foreign nationals allegedly celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, with some accused of making statements that appeared to endorse or commend his killing.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also determined that a number of foreign nationals qualify for deportation on foreign-policy grounds, the statement noted.

Those cases reportedly include a Cuban national allegedly connected to a Cuban communist regime influence operation, Iranian nationals said to maintain ties to Iran’s government, a Laotian child sex offender granted a pardon by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and a Kuwaiti national accused of expressing a desire for violence against the US president while referring to Americans as his “enemy.”

The State Department stated it would continue working to identify, investigate and revoke the visas of foreign nationals deemed threats to public safety.

“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said, adding that it would deploy every available measure to safeguard American communities from those who abuse the immigration system.