US to revoke up to 200,000 visas in sweeping asylum crackdown
The State Department is coordinating with Homeland Security to strip business and tourism visas from asylum seekers, a move that could become the largest mass revocation in US history.
The Trump administration has announced plans to revoke non-immigrant B1 and B2 visas held by foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States. The initiative, coordinated between the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, targets individuals who entered the country as short-term visitors but subsequently filed for asylum to remain permanently.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the move could affect up to 200,000 people. While the official State Department statement did not specify an exact total, the AP cited internal documents and two US officials to estimate the scale. If fully materialised, this would constitute the largest single mass visa revocation in US history.
The revocation specifically targets B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026. These non-immigrant visas are typically issued for business and tourism travel. The State Department stated it is working to identify those who claimed to be short-term visitors before filing for asylum.
Officials noted that visa revocation does not necessarily equate to immediate deportation. Instead, most affected individuals with pending asylum cases would be re-categorised, losing their specific status as business or tourism travellers. This distinction is significant for understanding the immediate legal consequences for those involved.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau provided the political context for the move, alleging on X that the American immigration system has "long been swamped by frivolous asylum claims." This statement aligns with the administration's broader narrative of domestic security concerns driving the current policy shift.
The announcement comes as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown that includes aggressive deportation drives and the revocation of green cards. The State Department noted earlier this month that it had already revoked more than 175,000 visas under the current administration.
Rights groups have raised concerns that the broader crackdown has violated free speech and due process rights, particularly for ethnic minorities. Meanwhile, the administration has also made legal immigration more difficult by imposing new fees for certain work visa applicants, a move that has faced various legal challenges.
