The United States Department of State has said President Donald Trump’s administration has revoked over 300,000 American visas issued to foreign nationals since Mr Trump’s return to the White House in January last year.
The spokesperson for the State Department, Tommy Pigott, made the disclosure in a statement, stating that the Trump administration would continue to hunt foreigners who break U.S. laws amid Mr Trump’s restrictive immigration policies.
“With over 300,000 revocations, the Trump administration has revoked more visas at a faster pace than any administration in history.
“Let the message be clear: we have zero tolerance for foreigners here on visas who break the law, commit fraud, or undermine our national security. We are taking, and will continue to take, action to keep our borders, and our nation, secure,” Mr Pigott said.
The New York Post noted that an estimated 4,000 of those whose visas were revoked were accused of engaging in or facilitating birth tourism. Mr Trump has been vocal in his opposition to birthright citizenship and signed an executive order banning it on his first day in office last year.
However, in June this year, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, declared Mr Trump’s executive order unconstitutional, reaffirming that birthright citizenship is guaranteed to children born in the United States regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
The State Department noted that 25 per cent of individuals whose visas were revoked committed assault and related crimes, while 22 per cent were involved in driving under the influence.
Seven per cent each were accused of theft and substance abuse or distribution, while 39 per cent were immigrants accused of committing “other/unspecified” crimes.
Recall that Peoples Gazette reported earlier this month that two Nigerian nationals, Beatrice Chioma Nwaoha Ashamole and Semiu Olaiye Ijelu, were among dozens of individuals at risk of losing their U.S. citizenship after the Trump administration filed denaturalisation proceedings against them in a federal court.
Ms Ashamole was accused by the Department of Justice of illegally procuring her naturalisation through fraud and false testimony, while Mr Ijelu allegedly applied for immigration benefits under two different identities.
