The Trump administration is planning to revoke business and tourism visas for up to 200,000 foreigners seeking asylum in the U.S. This would be the largest mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and is likely to face legal challenges.
The State Department is expected to announce soon the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026. These visas belong to those who have filed or are filing for asylum, according to State Department documents and U.S. officials. The action involves coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Steps and Challenges
The coordination aims to identify and revoke nonimmigrant visas for people who visited the U.S. as short-term visitors but are now filing for asylum to stay permanently. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott mentioned that the number of revoked visas will remain dynamic as the process unfolds.
Officials note that those with pending asylum cases won’t face immediate deportation. Instead, their status as business or tourism travelers will be reclassified.
Increasing Restrictions
Since President Trump assumed office for his second term, the administration has increased visa restrictions. Measures include requiring more information on social media histories, imposing costly processing bonds, and banning visas for citizens from certain countries.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized those misusing tourist and business visas to enter the U.S. and then seek asylum. He cited the case of a Colombian citizen who applied for asylum after entering the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2015.
Visa Types and Effects
B1 visas are generally for business trips, while B2 visas are for tourism, family visits, or medical care. It’s unclear how many visa holders seeking asylum would be affected by these revocations. Current B1 and B2 applicants must affirm they won’t apply for asylum and must prove their intention to return home.
Within the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked around 175,000 visas for reasons ranging from criminal accusations to publicly opposing U.S. policies.
Birth Tourism Crackdown
The administration is also targeting birth tourism, where foreign women come to the U.S. to secure birthright citizenship for their children. This has been a point of contention, with courts, including the Supreme Court, rejecting attempts to end birthright citizenship.
The State Department’s intensified screening of current B1 and B2 visa holders started after receiving information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about asylum requests.