The Trump administration announced on Monday that it will revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, a move that could affect up to 200,000 people and would mark the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history if carried out.
Details of the visa revocation plan
A State Department spokesperson said the agency is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security “to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently.” The State Department did not specify the exact number of visas to be revoked in this process.
According to the Associated Press, which cited State Department documents and two US officials, the plan targets B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought or are now seeking asylum. B1 and B2 visas are non-immigrant visas issued for business and tourism travel.
Impact on asylum seekers and legal status
The AP report noted that the visa revocations would not necessarily result in immediate deportation. Most of those with pending asylum cases would be re-categorized but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers.
Earlier on Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau alleged on X that the American immigration system “has long been swamped by frivolous asylum claims.”
Broader immigration enforcement context
The State Department said earlier this month that under the Trump administration, it has revoked more than 175,000 visas of foreign nationals. The president has pursued an immigration crackdown that includes revocations of visas and green cards and an aggressive deportation drive, saying the crackdown aims to improve domestic security.
Rights groups say the crackdown has violated free speech and due process rights and created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities, who have raised concerns about racial profiling. While Trump campaigned in 2024 on a platform of stopping illegal immigration, his administration has also made legal immigration more difficult, for example by imposing new and expensive fees for applicants for certain work visas. The government’s crackdown has faced legal challenges.
