The United States government is preparing to revoke the business and tourist visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the country, according to documents from the US State Department and two US officials.
If implemented, the move would represent the largest single mass revocation of US visas in history and is expected to face legal challenges.
The State Department is expected to begin the revocations in the coming weeks, targeting B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to foreign nationals who have sought or are seeking asylum in the US.
The measure is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the administration was identifying foreigners who entered the country as short-term business or tourist visitors before filing asylum claims.
“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the non immigrant 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,” Pigott said.
However, the State Department has not confirmed the exact number of visas that will ultimately be revoked.
Pigott said the process would be carried out on a rolling basis, meaning the number could change as officials continue reviewing cases.
The planned revocations would not automatically lead to the immediate deportation of affected foreigners.
According to the officials, most people with pending asylum applications would have their immigration status categorized but would lose their B1 or B2 visa status.
B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment.
The administration has increasingly tightened US immigration and visa rules since President Donald Trump returned to office for a second term.
The measures have included greater scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity, visa bond requirements and restrictions on visa issuance to citizens of certain countries.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also criticised people who enter the US on tourist or business visas and later apply for asylum.
“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau said in a social media post on Monday, arguing that asylum should not be used to circumvent US immigration laws.
175,000 visas already revoked
The planned action comes after the State Department revoked about 175,000 visas over the past 18 months.
Those revocations involved people convicted or accused of crimes including drunken driving, rape and robbery, as well as some individuals who publicly opposed US policies, particularly concerning the Middle East.
The administration has also targeted birth tourism, under which foreign nationals travel to the US to give birth, potentially allowing their children to benefit from US birthright citizenship.
The Trump administration has sought to end birthright citizenship, although its efforts have faced legal challenges.
The latest State Department documents indicate that the review of current B1 and B2 visa holders began after officials received information from US Citizenship and Immigration Services about asylum applications.
The planned mass revocation could significantly affect foreign nationals who entered the United States legally on temporary business or tourist visas but subsequently sought protection through the US asylum system.
