Trump Administration Plans Historic Visa Revocation Targeting Up to 200,000 Asylum Seekers
The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the U.S. business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum, in what could become the largest single mass visa revocation in American history.
The planned action targets B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who later sought asylum in the United States. The State Department is coordinating the effort with the Department of Homeland Security, according to government documents and officials cited by The Associated Press.
State Department Targets B1 and B2 Visa Holders
A State Department spokesperson said the government is working with DHS to identify and revoke visas belonging to foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors but subsequently filed asylum claims.
The department has not confirmed that 200,000 visas will actually be revoked. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the number remains dynamic and that revocations would take place on a rolling basis.
B1 visas are generally used for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and certain medical trips.
If the reported figure is reached, the move would represent an unprecedented mass revocation of U.S. visas and is expected to face legal challenges.
Visa Revocation Does Not Automatically Mean Deportation
The planned action would not necessarily mean everyone affected would be immediately deported.
Officials told AP that many people with pending asylum cases could be reclassified while losing their B1 or B2 visitor status. The distinction is significant because visa revocation and deportation are separate immigration processes.
The administration argues that some people have used temporary visitor visas to enter the United States before attempting to remain permanently through asylum claims.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized what he described as “bogus asylum claims,” arguing that asylum should not be used as a way to circumvent immigration law.
Part of Trump’s Broader Immigration Crackdown
The proposed visa action is the latest development in President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement agenda.
The State Department said earlier this month that the administration had already revoked more than 175,000 visas over the previous 18 months. Those cases included people convicted or accused of crimes as well as some individuals who had publicly criticized U.S. policies.
The administration has also increased scrutiny of visa applicants, introduced visa-bond requirements for nationals of certain countries and restricted visa issuance to citizens of several nations.
Trump has repeatedly argued that tougher immigration enforcement is necessary to improve U.S. security and control the immigration system.
Rights Groups Raise Due Process Concerns
Immigration advocates and rights groups have criticized the administration’s broader crackdown, arguing that aggressive enforcement measures can threaten due-process protections and disproportionately affect immigrants and ethnic minorities.
The latest proposal is likely to draw additional legal scrutiny if the administration proceeds with the mass revocations.
For now, the reported 200,000 figure remains a potential maximum rather than a finalized number. The State Department is expected to continue reviewing visa holders, with the process potentially unfolding over the coming weeks.
If implemented at the reported scale, however, the policy would mark a dramatic new escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration campaign—and potentially the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.