US set for largest mass visa revocation in history targeting up to 200,000 foreigners, officials say

The Trump administration is poised to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied or are currently seeking asylum in the United States. If carried out, this would constitute the largest mass revocation of visas in U.S. history, potentially facing legal challenges. The State Department is anticipated to announce the revocation of so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, whose holders have sought or are seeking asylum, according to State Department documents provided to the Associated Press and two U.S. officials.

The action is set to be coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security. A State Department spokesman explained that the goal is to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who present themselves as short-term visitors but file for asylum to stay permanently in the U.S. The spokesman did not disclose the exact number of visas that might be revoked, stating that the process is ongoing and the number of revocations is dynamic.

Most of those with pending asylum cases would be reclassified but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers. Since President Donald Trump's second term began last year, his administration has strengthened visa applicant restrictions, including demanding more information about social media histories, requiring expensive bonds for visa processing, and outright banning visas for citizens of specific countries.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau recently criticized individuals who use tourist and business visas to enter the U.S. and then apply for asylum, emphasizing that asylum is not a loophole to circumvent immigration law. He cited a Colombian citizen who arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2015 and subsequently applied for asylum.

The exact number of affected visa holders seeking or having sought asylum is not clear from the documents or officials' statements. Current applicants for B1 and B2 visas are required to affirm they will not apply for asylum in the U.S. and prove their intention to return to their home countries. In the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked around 175,000 visas for individuals convicted or accused of crimes, as well as for those who publicly oppose U.S. policies, particularly in the Middle East.

Additionally, the administration has targeted "birth tourism," a practice where foreign pregnant women come to the U.S. to give birth, granting citizenship to their child. The State Department documents indicate that screening of current B1 and B2 visa holders began after receiving information about asylum requests from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.