Trump administration plans to revoke visas of foreigners seeking asylum

The Trump administration plans to revoke certain non-immigrant visas held by foreign nationals who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum in the United States.

The Trump administration plans to revoke certain non-immigrant visas held by foreign nationals who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum in the United States.

The State Department said Monday that it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify people who entered the country as temporary visitors but later filed asylum applications. Officials said the goal is to revoke their visitor visas.

The department did not provide an estimate of how many visas could be affected. However, the Associated Press reported that the number could reach 200,000, based on State Department documents and information from two U.S. officials. If carried out at that scale it could become the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.

The reported policy would affect B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought asylum. B1 visas are generally used for business travel while B2 visas cover tourism and other temporary visits.

Visa cancellation would not automatically mean immediate deportation. According to the AP report many people with pending asylum cases could remain in the United States while their cases are processed but they would no longer hold their previous business or tourism visitor status.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said Monday that the U.S. immigration system has been overwhelmed by what he described as frivolous asylum claims.

The State Department previously announced that more than 175,000 visas had been revoked under the Trump administration.

The planned visa action is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration enforcement campaign which includes visa and green-card cancellations and an expanded deportation effort. The administration says these measures are intended to strengthen national security and enforce U.S. immigration laws.

Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups have criticized the broader crackdown arguing that some government actions threaten due process and free-speech protections. They have also raised concerns about racial profiling and the treatment of minority communities.

Trump campaigned in 2024 on promises to reduce illegal immigration. Since returning to office, his administration has also introduced measures affecting legal immigration, including higher costs for some employment-based visa programs. Several immigration policies have faced legal challenges in U.S. courts.