The Trump administration plans to revoke non-immigrant B-1 and B-2 visas for up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the U.S., marking the largest single mass visa revocation in history. The move targets individuals who initially entered on short-term visitor visas but later filed for asylum, intensifying the administration's broader immigration crackdown.
The U.S. Department of State will revoke visas issued between 2016 and 2026, according to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott. The action follows recent revocations of over 175,000 visas for criminal activity or national security threats and comes amid legal challenges to Trump’s executive orders limiting birthright citizenship. A federal judge recently struck down a policy suspending visas for citizens of 75 countries, citing nationality discrimination.
The measure aligns with Trump’s aggressive deportation efforts, including ICE raids and restrictions on asylum eligibility. Rights groups criticize the policies for violating due process, while the Supreme Court previously invalidated an executive order on birthright citizenship. New orders targeting “birth tourism” and expanded ineligibility criteria are now facing lawsuits in New Hampshire.
Disagreement exists over the scope of the revocation: the Associated Press estimates up to 200,000 affected visas, while the State Department has not confirmed a specific number. Additionally, the 175,000 visas revoked in a separate recent action for criminal or security-related violations were not tied to asylum claims, highlighting the administration’s multi-pronged approach to immigration enforcement.