Up to 200,000 Visas Could Be Revoked at Once in U.S. History

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who have applied for asylum in the United States or are currently seeking asylum. The move is being viewed as another major tightening of the country’s immigration policies. The Guardian reported the development, citing the Associated Press (AP).

The U.S. State Department said Monday, August 24, that it will work with the Department of Homeland Security to identify foreign nationals who entered the United States for short-term purposes such as business or tourism but later applied for asylum in an attempt to remain in the country.

According to U.S. government documents obtained by the AP and information from officials, the process could result in the revocation of visas held by around 200,000 people. If implemented, it would mark one of the largest mass visa revocation efforts in U.S. history.

The measure would target holders of B-1 and B-2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum. B-1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B-2 visas are primarily intended for tourism.

However, visa revocation would not necessarily mean immediate removal from the United States. For people whose asylum applications are still pending, their visa status could instead be changed. They would be allowed to continue pursuing their asylum claims, but would no longer remain in the country as business or tourist visa holders.

Trump administration officials have long accused some migrants of abusing the U.S. asylum system. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has said the country’s immigration system has been under pressure for years because of what he described as “baseless asylum claims.”

Earlier this month, the State Department said the Trump administration had already revoked the visas of more than 175,000 foreign nationals. If the new plan to revoke nearly 200,000 additional visas is implemented, the administration’s restrictive immigration policies would expand significantly.

During his 2024 election campaign, Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration. Since returning to office, his administration has tightened restrictions not only on illegal immigration but also on several forms of legal immigration. These measures include visa and green card revocations, as well as large-scale immigration arrests and deportations.

Human rights organizations have criticized the administration’s policies, arguing that the tougher immigration measures undermine freedom of expression and legal rights while creating fear and insecurity among various immigrant communities. Several of the policies have also faced legal challenges in U.S. courts.