Trump Administration Prepares Large Visa Revocation for Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration is gearing up to revoke business and tourism visas for up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently pursuing asylum status in the U.S. This would mark the largest mass revocation of visas in the country’s history, likely sparking legal disputes.

According to State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two U.S. officials, announcements are expected in the coming weeks regarding the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026. These visas belong to holders who have sought or are seeking asylum. The action is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security.

“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,” stated State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott. The number of revocations will be dynamic and occur on a rolling basis.

The revocations will not result in immediate deportation. Most individuals with pending asylum cases will lose their status as business or tourism travelers but will be recategorized, as shared by officials who spoke anonymously.

During President Trump’s second term, the administration has intensified restrictions on visa applicants by demanding detailed information about their social media, requiring expensive bonds for visa processing, and banning visas for citizens of certain countries. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized people using tourist and business visas to enter the U.S. and then apply for asylum, describing such actions as exploiting loopholes in immigration law.

Landau referred to a Colombian citizen who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2015 and applied for asylum. B1 visas are typically for business, while B2 visas cater to tourism, family visits, or medical care purposes.

Currently, applicants for B1 and B2 visas must affirm their intent not to apply for asylum in the U.S. and show plans to return to their home countries.

In recent months, the State Department has canceled approximately 175,000 visas due to convictions or allegations of crimes such as drunken driving to robbery, including oppositions to U.S. policies. The administration has also cracked down on ‘birth tourism,’ a practice where foreign women give birth in the U.S. for birthright citizenship benefits. While President Trump attempted to end this practice, courts, including the Supreme Court, have rejected these efforts.

State Department documents reveal that screening of current B1 and B2 visa holders commenced following information from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about asylum requests.