US to revoke up to 200,000 tourist and business visas of asylum seekers

The Trump administration is set to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourist visas held by asylum seekers, according to State Department documents revealed to The Associated Press and two U.S. officials. If enacted, this would be the largest mass revocation of U.S. visas in history, potentially facing legal challenges. The State Department might announce the revocations in the coming weeks, targeting B1 and B2 visas issued to individuals who have sought asylum in the United States between 2016 and 2026.

The policy coordination falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. While the exact number of revoked visas remains uncertain, the department assures the process will be carried out in stages, with the final figure subject to change. The revocations would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation; individuals with pending asylum claims could lose their tourist or business classification while their cases proceed under alternative immigration status.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has expressed concern over asylum applicants entering the country on temporary visas before seeking protection. B1 visas are typically granted to business travelers, while B2 visas accommodate tourism, family visits, and medical treatments. Applicants must prove their intention to depart the U.S. after their authorized stay.

This proposed measure would augment an increasingly stringent visa enforcement strategy. Over the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas from individuals convicted or accused of crimes, and some revocations have targeted those who publicly criticized U.S. policies. The administration has also sought to curb birth tourism and sought to end birthright citizenship, though these efforts have been blocked by courts, including the Supreme Court.

Rwanda was identified as the primary beneficiary, receiving about $1.1 million per person through deportees, with a total of around $32 million allocated to five countries: Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, El Salvador, Palau, and Eswatini.