The Trump administration plans to revoke non-immigrant visas of foreigners who entered the US on short-term B1/B2 business and tourism visas and later applied for asylum, in a major escalation of its immigration crackdown. Coordinating with Homeland Security, officials say up to 200,000 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 could be affected, though revocations may not trigger immediate deportations.
The Trump administration on Monday said it plans to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, marking its latest move in a sweeping immigration crackdown.
A State Department spokesperson said it was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who entered the US as short-term visitors but later filed for asylum to remain in the country permanently.
The department did not specify how many visas could be revoked. The Associated Press, however, reported that up to 200,000 business and tourism visas could be affected, citing State Department documents and two US officials.
The planned revocations would cover B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought or are seeking asylum, the AP reported. B1 and B2 visas are issued for business and tourism travel.
The revocations would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. Most people with pending asylum cases would be reclassified but would lose their status as business or tourism travellers, according to the AP.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on X on Monday that the US immigration system had long been overwhelmed by what he described as “frivolous asylum claims”.
The State Department said earlier this month that the Trump administration had revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals.
Trump has pursued a broad immigration crackdown that includes visa and green card revocations as well as an aggressive deportation drive. He has said the measures are intended to improve domestic security.
Rights groups have criticised the crackdown, saying it has violated free speech and due process rights and created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities who have raised concerns about racial profiling.
The administration has also made legal immigration more difficult by imposing new fees on applicants for certain work visas. The measures have faced legal challenges.