The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to revoke the B1 and B2 visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for asylum or are currently pursuing asylum claims in the United States.
If implemented, the proposed action could become one of the largest mass visa revocation exercises in US history and would represent a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the planned revocations could be announced in the coming weeks and would affect individuals who were issued B1 business or B2 tourist visas between 2016 and 2026 before subsequently seeking asylum in the United States.
The US State Department has confirmed that it is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify individuals who could be affected.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the government was examining cases involving foreigners who entered the country as temporary visitors but later filed asylum applications seeking to remain in the US permanently.
“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 said.
The proposed policy would primarily affect the immigration status of those involved rather than automatically resulting in their immediate deportation.
Officials cited in the report said individuals with pending asylum applications would generally remain in the United States under a different immigration category while their asylum cases are processed. However, the revocation would terminate their status as B1 or B2 visitors.
The development has been defended by senior Trump administration officials, who argue that some foreign nationals are abusing temporary visitor visas as a means of establishing long-term residence in the United States.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticised what he described as fraudulent or unmeritorious asylum claims in a post on X.
“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote.
“Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.”
The proposed visa cancellations form part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten the country’s immigration system and increase scrutiny of foreign nationals seeking entry or residence in the United States.
Since returning to office, the administration has introduced or expanded several immigration enforcement measures, including stricter screening of visa applicants and additional scrutiny of applicants’ social media activities.
The government has also introduced visa-bond requirements for some foreign nationals, requiring applicants to provide substantial financial guarantees before being granted entry.
In addition, the United States has restricted or suspended visa issuance for citizens of certain countries as part of wider immigration and national security measures.
The latest proposal follows a significant number of visa cancellations already carried out by the State Department.
According to the report, approximately 175,000 visas have been revoked over the past 18 months. The cancellations have reportedly involved individuals accused or convicted of offences including driving under the influence, rape and robbery.
Some visa holders who publicly criticised US government policies, particularly those relating to the Middle East, have also reportedly had their visas revoked.
The proposed action targeting asylum seekers could therefore mark a substantial expansion of the administration’s approach to visa enforcement.
Under US immigration rules, B1 and B2 visas are intended for temporary visits. B1 visas are generally issued for business-related travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, medical treatment and certain other temporary purposes.
The administration’s position is that individuals who enter the country using such visas and subsequently seek to remain indefinitely may have undermined the purpose of the temporary visa system.
However, the proposed move is likely to attract significant attention because asylum applications are governed by separate provisions of US immigration law. Foreign nationals who are physically present in the United States may seek asylum if they meet the legal requirements for protection based on persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.
The distinction between visa status and asylum eligibility means that revoking a visitor visa does not necessarily determine whether an individual has a legitimate asylum claim.
Consequently, affected individuals could still have their asylum cases considered even after their B1 or B2 visas are cancelled.
The administration’s proposed policy nevertheless signals its determination to prevent temporary immigration channels from being used as pathways to permanent residence outside the conventional immigration process.
With potentially 200,000 people in line for visa revocation, immigration lawyers, advocacy groups and affected foreign nationals are expected to closely monitor the implementation of the policy and its possible legal consequences.
For foreigners planning to travel to the United States, the development also underscores the administration’s increasingly strict approach to visa compliance and immigration enforcement.
If the proposal goes ahead as reported, it would constitute a major shift in the treatment of visitors who subsequently seek asylum and further demonstrate the Trump administration’s determination to tighten the US immigration system.
