The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke the B1 and B2 business and tourist visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are pursuing asylum in the United States.
The proposed measure, expected to be announced in the coming weeks, could become the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press.
The policy would affect B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who later sought asylum or currently have pending asylum claims in the country.
The U.S. State Department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify those potentially affected. Officials say the administration is targeting visa holders who entered the country as temporary visitors but subsequently sought to remain through the asylum system.
For most affected individuals, the visa cancellations would not automatically trigger deportation. Those with pending asylum applications would instead have their immigration status handled under the relevant asylum process while losing their visitor-visa status.
The planned action forms part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to tighten immigration controls and prevent temporary visas from being used as a pathway to long-term residence.
The administration has introduced additional scrutiny for visa applicants, including expanded reviews of social media activity and, in some cases, substantial visa bond requirements. Visa restrictions have also been imposed on nationals of certain countries as part of the wider immigration crackdown.
The State Department has separately revoked about 175,000 visas over the past 18 months, with previous cancellations affecting individuals accused or convicted of offences as well as some people whose conduct or public statements came under government scrutiny.
If implemented, the latest proposal would mark a major escalation in the administration’s efforts to restrict the use of temporary U.S. visas by people seeking longer-term immigration or asylum protection.
