- The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, which would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and would likely face legal challenges.
- Unless challenged or revised, the State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks the revocation of B-1 and B-2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought or are now seeking asylum, according to State Department documents and two U.S. officials.
- The action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said, We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant 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. He declined to comment on the number of visas that might be revoked, saying as the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.
- Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term last year, his administration has ramped up restrictions on visa applicants demanding more social media history, requiring expensive bonds, and banning visas for citizens of certain countries.
The Trump administration is preparing to revoke up to 200,000 B-1 and B-2 visas for foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the U.S. This action, which could be the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history, targets individuals who entered the country as short-term visitors but later filed for asylum.2
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated, “We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant 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 revocation process is expected to begin soon, affecting visas issued between 2016 and 2026.45
While the exact number of visas to be revoked remains unspecified, estimates suggest up to 200,000 individuals could be impacted. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized the use of tourist and business visas for asylum claims, asserting, “People in the U.S. and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims.” He emphasized that asylum should not serve as a loophole to bypass immigration law.
Experts like Rut Bermejo Casado noted that revoking a visa does not terminate an asylum claim, stating, “They would lose their status as temporary visitors, but they would not necessarily become immediately removable solely because their visa has been revoked.” The policy may act more as a deterrent than a mechanism for immediate deportation, indicating a significant shift in how post-entry asylum claims are treated.
This move follows a trend of increasing restrictions on visa applicants since President Trump took office, including more stringent requirements and the revocation of approximately 175,000 visas for various offenses in the past 18 months.
“The revocation targets B-1 and B-2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, affecting people who have committed no crime, unlike the earlier cancellation of more than 175,000 visas. Researcher Rut Bermejo Casado warns the policy may be more a deterrent and political statement than a mechanism for immediate deportation.”
Global News
