The proposed action targets B1 and B2 business and tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to foreign nationals who have sought or are seeking asylum.
The Donald Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourist visas of up to 2 lakh foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, in what could become the largest single mass visa revocation in US history. The plan targets holders of B1 and B2 non-immigrant visas and is expected to be implemented in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The US State Department has confirmed that it is working with DHS to identify people who entered the country as short-term visitors but later filed asylum applications. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the department was coordinating with DHS to revoke the relevant non-immigrant visas. However, the department has not confirmed the final number of visas that will be cancelled, saying the process will take place on a rolling basis.
Which Visas Are Targeted?
The proposed action concerns B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 where the holders have sought asylum or are currently seeking asylum, according to State Department documents obtained by the Associated Press and cited by US officials. B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and certain medical trips.
The administration argues that some foreign nationals are using short-term visitor visas to enter the US and subsequently pursue asylum as a way of remaining in the country. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has criticised what he described as “bogus” asylum claims and argued that asylum should not be used to circumvent immigration rules.
Will Visa Holders Be Deported?
Revocation of a B1 or B2 visa would not automatically mean immediate deportation, according to officials cited by the Associated Press.
People with pending asylum cases could instead be re-categorised while losing their status as business or tourism visitors. The distinction is important because visa cancellation and removal from the United States are separate immigration processes.
The State Department is expected to announce further details in the coming weeks. Until then, the exact number of people ultimately affected remains uncertain.
Part of Wider Immigration Crackdown
The planned visa cancellations are the latest step in the Trump administration's broader immigration enforcement drive. Since returning to office for a second term, the administration has tightened scrutiny of visa applicants and expanded measures involving visa revocations, deportations and restrictions on legal immigration.
The State Department has said it has already revoked more than 175,000 visas during the administration's broader enforcement efforts. Those cancellations have involved a range of issues, including criminal allegations and other grounds cited by US authorities.
The administration has also introduced additional scrutiny of visa applicants, including examination of social media histories and other measures intended to strengthen immigration enforcement.
Legal Challenges Likely
The proposed mass revocation is likely to face legal challenges if implemented. Rights groups have already criticised the Trump administration's immigration policies, raising concerns about due process and the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers.
The proposal also comes amid wider legal disputes over the administration's immigration measures. A US federal judge recently struck down a separate policy that had suspended immigrant visa issuance for citizens of 75 countries, ruling that the policy exceeded statutory authority.
For foreign nationals currently in the US on B1 or B2 visas who have filed asylum claims, the immediate issue is therefore not simply whether their visas will be cancelled, but how the government will classify their immigration status afterward.
If implemented at the scale reported by AP, the action would mark a major escalation in the Trump administration's use of visa revocation as an immigration enforcement tool.
