The Trump administration is set to initiate a large-scale revocation of 200,000 visas held by asylum seekers in the United States

The US is set to revoke as many as 200,000 business and tourist visas held by asylum seekers, marking the largest mass cancelation to date.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is set to revoke the B1 and B2 business and tourist visas for as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the country.

The anticipated action is expected to represent the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history, with details revealed in the coming weeks, as reported by the Associated Press.

The action would focus on B1 and B2 visas granted from 2016 to 2026 to individuals who have applied for asylum or are actively pursuing asylum claims in the United States.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that the department is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify individuals impacted by the planned revocations. “We are working with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of individuals who have entered the United States as short-term visitors but subsequently apply for asylum to remain permanently.”

Officials have stated that canceling the visas would not necessarily lead to deportation for most affected individuals.

Individuals with pending asylum applications would be transitioned into a different immigration category while their cases are under review, thereby terminating their status as business or tourist visitors.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the proposed policy in a social media post, alleging that certain visa holders are exploiting temporary visitor visas to achieve permanent residency in the country.

“Individuals in the US and globally are tired of fraudulent asylum claims,” Landau expressed on X.

“Asylum is not meant to be a means to bypass immigration law.”

The suggested visa revocations are a component of a wider effort to tighten US immigration and visa policies during Trump’s second administration.

In the past year, the administration has implemented increased scrutiny for visa applicants, which includes requests for more details regarding their social media activity and mandates for certain applicants to provide significant visa bonds.

The US has implemented restrictions on visa issuance for citizens of specific countries as part of its broader immigration enforcement strategies.

The State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the last 18 months, as stated in the report.

Those cancelations have impacted individuals convicted or accused of offenses such as driving under the influence, rape, and robbery, along with those who have openly criticized US policies, especially in relation to the Middle East.

If enacted, the latest proposal would significantly strengthen the administration’s efforts to prevent individuals from using temporary US visas to pursue longer-term immigration or asylum opportunities.