Trump Administration Plans Major Visa Revocations for Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to revoke visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for asylum in the U.S. These are business and tourist visas, potentially affecting a significant number of individuals.

According to The Associated Press, the State Department is expected to announce this action soon. Internal documents and officials indicate the move targets B1 and B2 visas issued from 2016 to 2026 to foreigners who later filed for asylum. This initiative would mark the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history and may encounter legal challenges.

“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have entered the United States as short-term visitors and then filed for asylum,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott. The number of affected individuals remains uncertain, with revocations occurring on a “rolling basis.” Foreigners with pending asylum cases would be reclassified and would lose business or tourist traveler status.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized that asylum is not intended to bypass immigration laws. He expressed that both Americans and the global community oppose fraudulent asylum claims. B1 visas are generally for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits, and medical care. Applicants must currently show plans to return to their home countries.

The move is part of the Trump administration’s effort to address perceived abuses of the immigration system. Over the last 18 months, about 175,000 visas have been revoked, based on reports by The Associated Press. The State Department has not immediately commented on the impending revocations.

Sophia Compton is a writer at Fox News Digital with experience in business reporting and TV news production. She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.