The U.S. government is planning to revoke the visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have sought or are currently seeking asylum in the United States. This measure could lead to the largest mass visa revocation in the nation’s history, as reported by government officials.
These visas, categorized under B1 for business and B2 for tourism, typically facilitate business travel, family visits, or medical care. The proposed revocation targets visas issued from 2016 to 2026, affecting individuals who have filed for asylum.
“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,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
While the precise number of revoked visas remains flexible, officials emphasize that the process will proceed on a rolling basis. However, this decision is expected to face legal challenges.
The revocation will involve reclassification of affected individuals. Though it does not guarantee immediate deportation, those with pending asylum applications will lose their B1 or B2 status.
The Trump administration has increased scrutiny on visa applicants, demanding extensive background information and imposing other restrictions. Recent actions have also targeted “birth tourism,” a practice officials argue exploits birthright citizenship laws.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau highlighted in a recent social media post that false asylum claims undermine immigration law, referencing incidents where visitors allegedly misuse tourist visas for asylum purposes.
Current visa applicants are required to assure authorities of their intentions not to seek asylum in the U.S While it remains unclear how many will be affected, previous administration measures have already led to 175,000 visa revocations over the past 18 months for various reasons, including criminal convictions and political statements.