WASHINGTON: US visas held by up to 200,000 foreigners could be revoked under a sweeping Trump administration plan targeting people who entered the United States on business or tourist visas before seeking asylum, according to officials and documents obtained by the media.
If implemented, the action would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in US history and could face legal challenges.
The State Department is expected to announce the measure in the coming weeks, targeting B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought or are currently seeking asylum.
US Visas Targeted Under Asylum Crackdown
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said authorities were coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify foreigners who entered as short-term visitors but subsequently applied for asylum to remain permanently.
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Pigott said the number of revocations would remain “dynamic” as cases would be processed on a rolling basis.
The visa cancellations would not necessarily result in immediate deportations. People with pending asylum cases would generally be recategorised but would lose their status as business or tourism travellers, officials said.
B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment.
The planned action comes amid a broader tightening of US immigration and visa policies under President Donald Trump.
Over the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked around 175,000 visas involving people convicted or accused of various crimes and others targeted under administration policies.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said asylum should not become a “loophole to circumvent immigration law”.
