The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners, a move that could represent the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history. The revocations would target holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have sought or are currently seeking asylum, according to State Department documents and U.S. officials cited by the Associated Press.
B1 visas are typically issued for business travel, while B2 visas are for tourists or those visiting for family or medical reasons. Individuals who have applied for asylum within the past 10 years while holding these visa types could be affected.
The State Department, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is expected to announce the revocations formally in the coming weeks. A State Department spokesman indicated that the process is ongoing and will be implemented on a rolling basis. Holders of revoked visas would immediately lose their status as business or tourism travelers, though immediate deportation is not a certainty.
This action is described as President Trump's latest effort to tighten the U.S. visa process. Previous measures by the administration have included investigating applicants' social media histories, requiring visa processing bonds, and imposing bans on citizens from certain countries. Since the start of Trump's second term, the State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas for individuals accused or convicted of criminal activity or who have publicly criticized U.S. policies.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that foreign nationals have been using tourist and business visas as a means to enter the U.S. and then apply for asylum to remain in the country indefinitely. He asserted that asylum is not intended as a loophole to circumvent immigration laws.
Under current procedures, B1 and B2 visa applicants must affirm their intent to return to their home countries and not apply for asylum while in the U.S. The potential visa revocations follow the Supreme Court's June ruling that prevented the Trump administration from ending birthright citizenship via executive order. Since that ruling, the administration has intensified its focus on combating so-called birth tourism, with officials contending that pregnant women have used tourist visas to give birth in the U.S. to secure citizenship for their children.