The Trump administration is preparing to cancel the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States — a move that would constitute the largest single mass revocation of visas in American history. The State Department is expected to announce the action within the coming weeks, working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to State Department documents and two US officials speaking on condition of anonymity because the plan is not yet finalised.

The revocations would target so-called B1 and B2 visas — standard non-immigrant visas issued for business trips, tourism, family visits, and medical care — issued between 2016 and 2026, whose holders have sought or are currently seeking asylum status. "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," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said. Current applicants for B1 and B2 visas are already required to affirm that they do not intend to seek asylum and that they plan to return to their home countries. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau framed the move in blunt terms, writing on X that "people in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims" and that asylum "isn't supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law."

Importantly, the revocations would not automatically trigger deportation. Officials said most people with pending asylum cases would be recategorised into a different immigration status, effectively stripping their business or tourist visa designation while their asylum proceedings continue through established legal channels. The number of revocations is expected to be carried out on a rolling basis, and officials declined to confirm the 200,000 figure as final.

This plan fits into a broader pattern of immigration restrictions pursued since President Donald Trump began his second term. Over the past 18 months, the State Department has already revoked roughly 175,000 visas from individuals convicted or accused of crimes ranging from drunk driving to robbery and rape, as well as from people who have publicly criticised US foreign policy. The administration has also tightened visa screening by demanding social media histories from applicants, imposing expensive financial bonds in some cases, and banning visa issuance to citizens of certain countries entirely.

The measure is widely expected to face legal challenges if implemented. Civil rights and advocacy groups have argued that the administration's sweeping immigration crackdown violates freedoms of expression and due process, and has created a climate of fear — particularly among ethnic minorities who have raised concerns about racial profiling. The plan nonetheless signals a sharper administrative line between entering the US as a temporary visitor and subsequently seeking permanent protection through the asylum system, a distinction the Trump administration is moving aggressively to enforce.