Up to 200,000 foreigners set to lose US visas in largest revocation in history
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.
The United States is set to revoke up to 200,000 foreign visas, marking the largest mass revocation in history, according to the Associated Press and U.S. officials. The move, expected to be announced in the coming weeks, targets B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, which were granted to individuals who have since sought asylum or are currently seeking it.
The revocations are being conducted in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to identify and revoke the visas of those who have arrived in the U.S. as short-term visitors but are now applying for asylum to stay permanently. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott declined to provide an exact number of revoked visas, noting that the process is ongoing.
Most of those with pending asylum cases would lose their status as business or tourism travelers but would not face immediate deportation. The revocations follow a trend of restrictions under the Trump administration, which has increased scrutiny on visa applicants, demanding more information about their social media activities, requiring expensive visa bonds, and outright banning visa issuance for citizens of certain countries.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has criticized individuals who exploit tourist and business visas to enter the U.S. and subsequently apply for asylum, stating that asylum should not be used as a loophole to circumvent immigration law.
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