Trump administration move, if carried out, would mark the largest single mass visa revocation in American history.
The United States is preparing to cancel the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors and later applied for asylum, according to reports citing State Department documents and US officials.
The planned action targets B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought or are currently seeking asylum. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks, with the State Department coordinating the revocations with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
US Plans Mass Visa Revocations for Asylum Seekers:
If implemented at that scale, the measure would constitute the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the effort, stating: “We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently.”
Pigott described the practice as inconsistent with the terms of the visas, which are issued on the understanding that holders intend to return home. Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum, he said, constitutes fraud and is grounds for revocation.
The revocations would not automatically trigger immediate deportation. Officials indicated that most people with pending asylum cases would be re-categorised and would lose their status as business or tourism travellers while their claims continue to be processed.
The move forms part of a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s second term. Since taking office, the administration has intensified restrictions on visa applicants, including expanded social media scrutiny, bond requirements, and bans on nationals from certain countries. It has already revoked more than 175,000 visas for various reasons, according to State Department figures.
US Asylum Visa Crackdown Faces Legal Challenges:
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the approach on social media, arguing that the US immigration system “has long been swamped by frivolous asylum claims” and that asylum should not serve as a loophole to circumvent immigration law.
Advocacy groups and legal experts have signalled that the plan is likely to face court challenges. Asylum seekers and their representatives argue that many individuals who arrive on temporary visas later claim protection due to genuine fears of persecution, and that mass revocation could undermine due process and international refugee obligations. The State Department has said the number of affected visas remains dynamic and that revocations will proceed on a rolling basis. No final timeline for the formal announcement has been released.