The Trump administration is preparing to revoke business and tourism visas held by up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for asylum, marking what officials say would be the largest single mass revocation in U.S. history.
The State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 held by individuals who have sought or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. According to State Department documents and administration officials, the move targets foreigners who entered as short-term visitors but subsequently filed for permanent residency through asylum claims. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated the action aims to address cases where individuals use visitor visas as a pathway to remain in the country permanently.
Under the planned revocations, visa holders with pending asylum cases would be recategorized rather than immediately deported, according to officials involved in the process. However, individuals would lose their status as business or tourism travelers. State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau defended the policy on social media, characterizing such asylum applications as "bogus claims" and stating that "asylum isn't supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law." The State Department indicated the number of revocations would remain dynamic and occur on a rolling basis as the process unfolds.
The administration has signaled broader restrictions on immigration and visa policies since President Trump's second term began. Recent measures include increased scrutiny of visa applicants' social media histories, expensive bond requirements for visa processing, and visa bans for citizens of certain countries. In the past 18 months alone, the State Department revoked approximately 175,000 visas for individuals convicted or accused of crimes and those who publicly criticized U.S. policies.
The planned revocation is expected to face legal challenges. The administration has not disclosed the exact number of visas potentially affected, though officials confirmed the revocation process could involve up to 200,000 individuals. Current B1 and B2 visa applicants are required to affirm they will not seek asylum and demonstrate their intent to return home.
