Trump administration plans to revoke up to 200,000 visas from asylum seekers
The Trump administration said it is working to revoke up to 200,000 tourist and business visas from foreigners who later filed for asylum, which would be the largest single mass visa revocation in US history.
The US State Department announced on Monday that it is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke non-immigrant visas held by foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors but later applied for asylum to remain permanently. A department spokesperson did not disclose an exact number of visas to be revoked.
However, the Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported the figure could reach up to 200,000 business and tourism visas. Should that number be confirmed, it would represent the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history.
The plan targets so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought or are currently seeking asylum. These categories are designated for business and tourism travel respectively.
According to the AP, revocation would not automatically trigger immediate deportation. Most people with pending asylum cases would instead be re-categorized, losing their status as business or tourism travelers while their asylum proceedings continue.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on X earlier Monday that the US immigration system has long been overwhelmed by what he called frivolous asylum claims.
The State Department said earlier this month that the Trump administration has already revoked more than 175,000 visas of foreign nationals. The move is part of a broader immigration crackdown pursued by President Donald Trump, which includes revoking visas and green cards alongside an intensified deportation campaign that the administration says is meant to strengthen domestic security.
Rights groups say the crackdown has infringed on free speech and due process, creating an unsafe environment particularly 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, costly fees on applicants for certain work visas. The government's crackdown has faced legal challenges in court.
