US Prepares Largest Visa Revocation in History, Nearly 200,000 Foreigners to Be Affected: Report

The Trump administration is preparing to revoke business and tourist visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals in the United States who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking it, according to a report by the Associated Press. The State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, specifically targeting holders who have applied for or are applying for asylum. The action will be carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
If carried out, this would be the largest single revocation of visas in US history and could face legal challenges. The information was obtained by AP through State Department documents and two US officials.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said: “We are working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreign nationals who came to the United States claiming short-term travel but then applied for asylum to remain here permanently.” He declined to comment on the exact number of visas likely to be revoked, saying that since the process would be ongoing, the number of revocations would remain dynamic and be carried out in phases.
According to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, most individuals with pending asylum cases will be reclassified but will lose their business or tourist traveler status. In a social media post on Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized people who enter the US on tourist and business visas and then apply for asylum. Landau wrote on X: “Americans and people around the world are tired of fraudulent asylum claims. Asylum is not a loophole to bypass immigration law.” He cited the case of a Colombian national who entered the US on a tourist visa in 2015 and later applied for asylum, saying the system has long been overwhelmed with asylum applications, that the process takes years, and that applicants put down roots in the country while their cases are pending.
B1 visas are generally issued for business trips, while B2 visas are issued for tourism, family visits, or medical care. It was not immediately clear from the documents or officials how many of these visa holders are seeking or have sought asylum, or how many will be affected by the revocations. Meanwhile, current B1 and B2 visa applicants are being asked to confirm that they will not apply for asylum in the United States and to demonstrate an intent to return to their home countries.