The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a significant policy change that could lead to the revocation of business and tourist visas for an estimated 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for asylum in the United States.
Sources familiar with the matter and internal government documents indicate that the State Department is expected to announce this extensive action in the coming weeks.
Proposed Visa Revocation Details
The proposed measure would specifically target B1 (business) and B2 (tourism, family visits, medical care) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who subsequently filed for asylum. If implemented, this would represent the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history and could potentially trigger legal disputes.
A State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, confirmed ongoing efforts. "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," Pigott stated.
Pigott did not provide a definitive number of individuals who might be affected, indicating that revocations would proceed on a "rolling basis" and the total figures remained "dynamic."
This action would not automatically result in immediate deportations. Instead, foreign nationals with active asylum cases would generally have their status reclassified, leading to the loss of their business or tourist traveler designation, according to officials.
Context and Administration Stance
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau recently emphasized that the asylum system should not be exploited to bypass existing immigration statutes.
People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims. Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.
B1 visas are typically granted for business-related travel, while B2 visas are designated for tourism, family visits, or medical treatment. A core requirement for these visas is that applicants must demonstrate a clear intent to return to their home countries after their temporary stay.
This potential policy shift aligns with the Trump administration's broader efforts to address what it perceives as misuse within the immigration framework. Over the past year and a half, the State Department has already rescinded approximately 175,000 visas.
