Trump Administration Plans Largest Visa Revocation in U.S. History, Targeting Up to 200,000 Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration is preparing an unprecedented crackdown on visa holders who have applied for asylum protection, targeting as many as 200,000 individuals currently holding or having held business and tourism credentials. State Department documents reviewed by The Associated Press and two federal officials confirm the initiative represents an extraordinary enforcement action without precedent in American immigration policy. The move is expected to be formally announced within weeks through a coordinated effort between the State Department and Department of Homeland Security.

Officials plan to systematically revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for any foreign nationals documented as having filed asylum claims or currently pursuing asylum status. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott characterized the action as targeting individuals “who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently.” He stated the process would occur incrementally, with revocation numbers subject to change as cases are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

The revocations will not automatically trigger deportation proceedings for affected individuals, according to the officials. Most asylum applicants with pending cases would be administratively recategorized and stripped of their visitor classification, though their legal status would remain under review through existing asylum adjudication systems, the officials said on condition of anonymity given the policy’s preliminary stage.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the strategy in a social media statement Monday, asserting that “asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.” He cited the example of a Colombian national who entered on a tourist visa in 2015 before subsequently seeking asylum protection. Landau characterized such applications as “bogus asylum claims” facing growing public opposition.

Since Trump’s second-term inauguration, the administration has progressively intensified vetting procedures for visa applicants, including expanded social media background investigations, elevated bond requirements for visa processing, and categorical entry bans for citizens of specific nations. Over the preceding 18 months, the State Department revoked approximately 175,000 visas for individuals convicted or accused of criminal offenses and for people who publicly criticized U.S. policies, particularly regarding Middle Eastern affairs.

B1 visas typically authorize business-related travel while B2 credentials cover tourism, family reunification, and medical treatment. Current applicants for both visa categories are required to certify they will not pursue asylum claims and demonstrate intent to return to their country of origin. The precise number of visa holders who would face revocation under this policy remains unclear from available documentation.

The administration has simultaneously pursued restrictions on so-called birth tourism, which it characterizes as a mechanism for foreign nationals to secure birthright citizenship for their children. Trump has repeatedly attempted to eliminate birthright citizenship through executive action, though such efforts have been consistently rebuffed by courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.