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

The United States government is set to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourism visas belonging to foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the US, marking the largest mass visa revocation in history. This decision, which could face legal challenges, is expected to be announced by the State Department in the coming weeks.

The revoked visas, known as B1 and B2, were issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who have sought asylum or are currently seeking asylum in the United States. The revocations will be coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and may not result in immediate deportation; instead, affected individuals will be recategorized but will lose their status as business or tourism travelers.

The administration's decision comes amid a series of restrictive measures imposed on visa applicants under the Trump administration, including the demand for more information about social media histories, posting expensive bonds for visa processing, and outright banning visa issuance to citizens of certain countries. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has criticized individuals who use tourist and business visas to enter the US and then apply for asylum, stating that asylum is not a loophole to circumvent immigration law.