US Plans Mass Visa Revocations for Asylum Seekers

The United States is preparing to revoke the B1 and B2 business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are seeking asylum, according to reporting by the Associated Press based on State Department documents and interviews with two US officials. If implemented, the measure would reportedly be the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history. The State Department is expected to announce the policy within weeks in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. It would apply to B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought asylum or are currently pursuing asylum claims. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the administration believes some visitors misrepresented their intention to remain temporarily in the United States before filing for asylum. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau similarly accused some applicants of using tourist and business visas to circumvent immigration law. Officials told the AP that visa cancellation would not automatically lead to deportation. Most people with pending asylum cases would instead be moved into another immigration category, losing their business or tourism classification while their cases continue. The proposal is part of President Donald Trump's broader second-term campaign to tighten immigration and visa rules. Recent measures have included demanding applicants' social media histories, requiring expensive visa-processing bonds, and banning visas for citizens of certain countries. The State Department has also revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the previous 18 months, citing criminal convictions or accusations—including drunk driving, rape, and robbery—as well as public criticism of US policies, particularly those concerning the Middle East. The proposed action has not yet been formally announced, and the article does not indicate how asylum applicants, attorneys, or rights organizations have responded.

The Trump administration announced plans to revoke the business and tourism visas of approximately 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States. If implemented, the measure would represent the largest single mass revocation of US visas in history. The State Department said it is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify people who entered the country as short-term visitors but later filed asylum claims in an effort to remain permanently. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott did not confirm the precise number of affected visas, saying the total remains dynamic and that revocations will occur on a rolling basis. Documents obtained by The Associated Press and comments from two US officials indicate that the State Department could begin announcing the revocations in the coming weeks. The measure would reportedly target B1 business visas and B2 visas issued for tourism, family visits and medical care between 2016 and 2026. The officials said losing a visa would not automatically lead to deportation. However, people with pending asylum cases would no longer retain their classification as business or tourism travelers. Current applicants for B1 and B2 visas are required to affirm that they are not seeking asylum and demonstrate an intention to return home. The planned action is part of the administration’s wider immigration crackdown since President Donald Trump began his second term. Other measures have included requiring visa applicants to submit social media histories, imposing costly visa bonds and banning citizens of certain countries from entering the United States. The article also notes a recent judicial setback for the administration. US District Judge Jeannette Vargas struck down a policy suspending immigrant-visa issuance from 75 countries, ruling that it was unlawful and exceeded executive authority. She said the policy interfered with Congress’s requirement that consular officers play the primary role in visa decisions.

The Trump administration said it plans to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreign nationals who have applied for asylum in the United States or are currently seeking asylum. The State Department said it was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify people who entered the country on short-term business or tourism visas but later filed asylum claims to remain permanently. The department did not specify how many visas would be affected. However, the Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported that as many as 200,000 B1 and B2 visa holders could be targeted. The visas, issued for business and tourism travel, would reportedly include those granted between 2016 and 2026. If implemented at that scale, the action would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in US history. Visa cancellation would not automatically lead to immediate deportation. According to the AP report, many people with pending asylum cases could be reclassified and would lose their status as business or tourism visitors, while their asylum proceedings continued. The announcement is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which includes visa and green-card revocations and an aggressive deportation campaign. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the US immigration system had been overwhelmed by what he described as frivolous asylum claims. The State Department also said that more than 175,000 visas had already been revoked under the Trump administration. The administration says its policies are intended to improve domestic security. Rights groups argue that the measures undermine free speech and due-process protections and have created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities concerned about racial profiling. The crackdown has faced legal challenges and has also made some forms of legal immigration more difficult through new and costly application fees.