The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. If implemented, this action would represent the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and is expected to face legal challenges.
State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and confirmed by two U.S. officials indicate that the State Department is set to announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026. These visas belong to individuals who have sought or are currently seeking asylum. The initiative 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," said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott. Pigott declined to provide a specific number of visas that might be revoked, noting that the process is ongoing and the number will be dynamic.
Officials stated that the revocations would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. Most individuals with pending asylum cases would have their status reclassified, losing their standing as business or tourism travelers. These officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as the revocations are not yet final.
Since President Trump took office for his second term, his administration has progressively tightened restrictions on visa applicants. These measures include demanding more extensive information regarding social media activity, requiring substantial bonds for visa processing, and implementing bans on visas for citizens of certain nations.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau recently addressed the issue on social media, criticizing individuals who allegedly use tourist and business visas as a pathway to seek asylum in the U.S. "Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law," Landau wrote on X, citing the example of a Colombian citizen who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2015 and subsequently applied for asylum.
B1 visas are typically issued for business purposes, while B2 visas are generally for tourism, visiting family, or medical treatment. The exact number of affected visa holders was not immediately clear from the documents or official statements.
Under current procedures, applicants for B1 and B2 visas are required to affirm their intent to return to their home countries and not apply for asylum in the United States.
The State Department has previously revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the past 18 months. These revocations targeted individuals convicted or accused of various crimes, including drunken driving and rape, as well as those who have publicly criticized U.S. policies, particularly in the Middle East.
The administration has also focused on combating "birth tourism," which it claims involves foreign pregnant women entering the U.S. to give birth and obtain birthright citizenship for their children. Previous attempts by the Trump administration to end birthright citizenship have been unsuccessful, with court rulings, including from the Supreme Court, rejecting such challenges.
State Department documents suggest that the screening of current B1 and B2 visa holders began after the department received information regarding asylum requests from the Citizen and Immigration Service.