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 enacted, this action would represent the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and is expected to face legal challenges. The State Department is anticipated to announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who have sought or are seeking asylum. This move is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that the department is working with DHS to identify and revoke nonimmigrant visas of individuals who entered the U.S. claiming to be short-term visitors but subsequently file for asylum to remain permanently. Pigott declined to provide a specific number of visas that might be revoked, noting that the number is dynamic and revocations will occur on a rolling basis as the process unfolds.
Officials familiar with the plan, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as the revocations are not yet final, indicated that these actions would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. Most individuals with pending asylum cases would have their status reclassified, but they would forfeit their status as business or tourism travelers.
Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has progressively tightened restrictions on visa applicants. These measures have included increased demands for social media histories, the requirement of substantial bonds for visa processing, and bans on issuing visas to citizens of certain countries.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has publicly criticized the practice of using tourist and business visas as a pathway to asylum, referring to it as a circumvention of immigration law. He cited an example of a Colombian national who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2015 and subsequently applied for asylum.
B1 visas are designated for business purposes, while B2 visas are typically for tourism, family visits, or medical care. The documents obtained by the Associated Press and officials did not immediately clarify the exact number of B1 and B2 visa holders currently seeking or who have sought asylum and would be impacted by the revocations.
Applicants for B1 and B2 visas are currently required to affirm their intention to return to their home countries and not apply for asylum in the United States. In the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas. These revocations were primarily for individuals convicted or accused of various crimes, including driving under the influence, rape, and robbery, as well as for those who had publicly criticized U.S. policies, particularly those in the Middle East.
The administration has also targeted "birth tourism," a practice where foreign nationals reportedly come to the U.S. to give birth, thereby obtaining birthright citizenship for their children. Previous attempts by the Trump administration to end birthright citizenship have been unsuccessful, with legal challenges rejected by courts, including the Supreme Court.
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.