WASHINGTON, USA – The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke the business and tourist visas of potentially up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States.
The planned move would target holders of B1 and B2 visas, which are generally issued to people travelling to the US temporarily for business or tourism. The State Department is expected to begin the revocations on a rolling basis.
The measure could become the largest mass visa revocation in US history and is likely to face legal challenges.
The policy is expected to cover foreign nationals who received B1 or B2 visas between 2016 and 2026 and subsequently filed asylum claims in the US.
The State Department said it is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify people whose immigration circumstances changed after they entered the country.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the administration considers visas a privilege rather than a permanent entitlement.
“A visa is a privilege — not a right,” he said.
Pigott said officials would target people who entered the US as temporary visitors but later sought asylum to remain in the country permanently.
“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,” he added.
The Associated Press reported that the State Department is preparing to revoke up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visas. Officials have not publicly confirmed a final number, however, and the process is expected to continue gradually.
Pigott said the number would remain fluid as authorities identify additional cases.
“As the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.”
The planned revocations do not automatically mean that every affected asylum seeker will be immediately deported.
The action concerns the validity of the person’s nonimmigrant visa and their status as a temporary visitor.
People who have already filed asylum applications may still have separate immigration proceedings and legal avenues available to them. The exact consequences will depend on each person’s immigration status and circumstances.
Officials argue that people who enter the US using temporary visitor visas should not use those visas as a pathway to remain permanently through asylum claims.
The latest action forms part of a broader crackdown that has included increased visa scrutiny, expanded vetting and previous visa cancellations.
The State Department has already revoked more than 175,000 visas over the past 18 months for reasons including criminal conduct and violations of visa conditions, according to AP.
The administration has also introduced additional scrutiny for visa applicants, including policies examining applicants’ backgrounds and social media activity.
The policy raises questions about people who may have entered the US legally and later developed legitimate grounds to seek protection.
For asylum seekers, the central issue is whether their circumstances justify protection under US and international refugee law rather than whether they originally entered the country as tourists or business visitors.
The administration, however, is framing the move as an effort to prevent abuse of temporary visa categories. The planned visa cancellations come as the Trump administration continues to tighten immigration rules.
The government has also moved to restrict other immigration pathways and increase scrutiny of foreigners seeking to enter or remain in the United States.
The State Department recently paused processing of immigrant visa applications globally while consular officers undergo training on updated screening requirements, adding to concerns about the broader direction of US immigration policy.
The State Department has not yet released a complete list of affected visa holders.
