The Trump administration is set to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently pursuing asylum status in the United States. If it occurs, this action would represent the most significant single mass revocation of visas in US history and is expected to encounter legal challenges. In the absence of any challenges or revisions, the State Department is anticipated to declare in the forthcoming weeks the annulment of B1 and B2 visas that were granted between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who have either sought or are currently seeking asylum, as per documents from the State Department acquired by two US officials. The action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. “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,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott. He declined to comment on the number of visas that might be revoked, saying “as the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.”
The revocations would not necessarily lead to their immediate deportation, the officials indicated. According to officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the non-final nature of the revocations, most individuals with pending asylum cases would be recategorised, resulting in the loss of their status as business or tourism travellers. Since President Donald Trump assumed office for his second term last year, his administration has consistently intensified restrictions on visa applicants. This includes demands for more comprehensive information regarding their social media histories, the requirement of costly bonds for visa processing, and the outright prohibition of visa issuance to citizens from specific countries. In a social media post on Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticised individuals who attempt to exploit tourist and business visas to enter the United States, subsequently seeking asylum.
“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote on X. “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.” Landau cited the case of a Colombian citizen who came to the US in 2015 on a tourist visa and then applied for asylum. B1 visas are typically allocated for business-related travel, whereas B2 visas are primarily designated for tourism, family visits, or medical treatment. It was not immediately evident from the documents or the officials how many of these visa holders are pursuing or have pursued asylum in the United States and would be impacted by the revocations. Current applicants for B1 and B2 visas are required to affirm their intention not to seek asylum in the United States and to demonstrate their commitment to returning to their home countries.
Over the last 18 months, the State Department has rescinded approximately 175,000 visas for individuals convicted or accused of various offences, including drunken driving, rape, and robbery. This action also extends to those who have publicly criticised US policies, especially concerning the Middle East. The administration has taken steps to address the issue of birth tourism, a practice that it asserts is exploited by foreign pregnant women who travel to the United States to give birth, thereby ensuring that their child is granted birthright citizenship. Trump has made multiple attempts to abolish birthright citizenship; however, these efforts have been consistently dismissed by the judiciary, including the Supreme Court. The State Department documents acquired by the AP indicate that the screening of existing B1 and B2 visa holders commenced following the receipt of information regarding asylum requests from the Citizenship and Immigration Service.
