US Cancels Over 300,000 Visas Under Rubio, Highest Revocations in American History

The United States has revoked more than 300,000 visas under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marking the highest number of visa cancellations in American history, according to the US State Department. The move comes as the Donald Trump administration intensifies its scrutiny of foreign nationals holding American visas.

The State Department announced the figures in a series of posts on its official X account late on Saturday, describing the review of existing visa holders as unprecedented.

It said most revocations were linked to criminal activity, public safety concerns, immigration violations, fraud, misrepresentation or other information suggesting that the individuals no longer met visa eligibility requirements.

Over 4,000 visas revoked over birth tourism

The State Department said more than 4,000 visas had been revoked specifically over birth tourism, a practice in which foreign nationals travel to the US to give birth so their children can acquire American citizenship.

Of these, more than 700 visas belonged to Chinese nationals.

The department did not provide a country-wise breakdown of the overall 300,000-plus visa cancellations. It also did not disclose how many revoked visas were held by Indian nationals, who form a significant group among international students and skilled professionals in the US.

Continuous Vetting Centre revoked over 23,000 visas

The State Department also highlighted the work of its Continuous Vetting Centre, established in Washington, DC, in 2025 under the Bureau of Consular Affairs.

The centre alone was responsible for revoking more than 23,000 visas, according to the department. Most of these cancellations involved criminal activity or other public safety concerns.

The department provided a breakdown of the reasons for these revocations:

• 25% were linked to assault and related crimes.
• 22% involved driving under the influence (DUI).
• 7% were related to theft.
• 7% involved substance abuse or distribution.

Rubio-led review tightens scrutiny of visa holders

The State Department said the expanded screening process was aimed at ensuring that foreign nationals who violate US laws are not allowed to remain in the country.

In its X posts, the department reiterated that a visa is a privilege rather than a right and said the review would continue under Rubio's leadership.

The latest figures highlight the Trump administration's tougher approach to visa enforcement. However, the department has not released a complete breakdown of the nationalities affected or the types of visas revoked.