Over 175,000 Visas Revoked Amid Immigration Sweep (Img: Pinterrest)
Washington: The United States has intensified its immigration enforcement measures under US President Donald Trump administration, with the State Department announcing that more than 175,000 foreign nationals have had their visas revoked.
According to officials, such visa cancellations were initiated due to violations of terms and conditions, criminal activities, abuse of immigration processes, or the people being a threat to public safety and national security.
Most visa cancellations were initiated as a result of the people’s interaction with law enforcement authorities.
According to the US State Department, the revoked visas were linked to a range of alleged violations and criminal activities. Authorities said the action involved foreign nationals accused of offences such as assault, violent crimes, driving under the influence (DUI), theft, fraud, drug-related crimes, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking.
Officials have also highlighted several serious cases, including allegations of felony rape, kidnapping and sexual exploitation of minors. The department said these actions were taken as part of efforts to ensure that individuals who violate US laws or misuse the immigration system do not continue to hold the privilege of staying in the country.
The government reiterated that a US visa is granted under specific legal conditions and can be revoked if the holder violates those requirements, poses a threat to public safety or becomes involved in criminal activities.
This new measure follows a series of tough moves made by the Trump administration in enforcing immigration policies.
There have been stricter background screening tests, more careful vetting of visa applicants, and additional monitoring methods prior to admitting foreign nationals to the country.
These officials feel the need for such measures in order to safeguard American citizens from those with criminal backgrounds.
The administration’s heightened screening policies have also drawn criticism from civil liberty groups and immigration activists.
While it is argued that the more rigorous screening process, including examination of online and social media behavior of applicants, may give rise to privacy, freedom of speech and discrimination issues, supporters claim that there is a need for more thorough screening measures to detect any security threats.
