US plans to revoke visas of hundreds of thousands seeking asylum
The Trump administration says it is revoking non-immigrant visas from foreigners who applied for asylum after entering the US as short-term visitors. Up to 200,000 visas could be affected, potentially the largest mass revocation in US history.
The US State Department announced Monday it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke B1 and B2 non-immigrant visas belonging to foreigners who entered the country claiming to be short-term business or tourism visitors but later applied for asylum to remain permanently.
The department did not give an exact figure, but the Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported that as many as 200,000 visas could be revoked. If that number is reached, it would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in US history. The action targets B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought or are currently seeking asylum.
No immediate deportations expected
According to the AP report, the revocations would not automatically trigger deportation. Most people with pending asylum cases would instead be recategorized, losing their status as business or tourism travelers rather than facing immediate removal.
Earlier Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X that the US immigration system has long been overwhelmed by what he called frivolous asylum claims.
The State Department said earlier this month that more than 175,000 visas have already been revoked under the Trump administration. The new measure is part of a broader immigration crackdown that also includes revocations of visas and green cards along with an intensified deportation drive.
President Trump says the crackdown is meant to strengthen domestic security. Rights groups counter that it has infringed on free speech and due process protections and created an unsafe climate, especially for ethnic minorities, who have raised concerns about racial profiling. Although Trump campaigned in 2024 on curbing illegal immigration, his administration has also made legal immigration harder, including by imposing new and costly fees on applicants for certain work visas. The crackdown continues to face legal challenges.
