The United States plans to revoke visas held by some foreigners who entered as tourists or business visitors and later applied for asylum.
The State Department confirmed the new policy on Tuesday. It is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify affected visa holders.
The move targets holders of B-1 business and B-2 tourist visas who later sought asylum in the United States. Officials are examining visas issued between 2016 and 2026, according to reports citing government documents.
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The policy marks another expansion of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown since he returned to the White House in January 2025.
Up to 200,000 US Visas Could Be Affected
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said officials were targeting people who presented themselves as temporary visitors but later sought permanent protection.
“Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud,” Pigott said, calling that “grounds for visa revocation.”
He said B-1 and B-2 visas are intended for temporary travel by people who plan to leave the United States after their visit.
The White House suggested in a post on X that “up to two hundred thousand visas” could face revocation.
It described the planned action as the “largest mass visa revocation in history”.
However, the State Department has neither confirmed nor denied the 200,000 figure.
“The number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis,” Pigott said.
Associated Press reported that visa revocation would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. People with pending asylum cases could lose their visitor status while their asylum proceedings continue.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services guidance says people physically present in the country may apply for asylum regardless of immigration status. Applicants generally must file within one year of arrival, although exceptions exist.
The administration’s new policy instead focuses on whether a person intended to seek asylum when applying for a temporary visitor visa.
Trump Administration Has Already Revoked 175,000 Visas
The latest measure follows a sharp rise in visa cancellations during Trump’s second term.
Earlier this month, the State Department said it had revoked more than 175,000 visas since January 2025.
Officials said most cancellations followed law enforcement encounters involving crimes such as assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug offences.
Other cases involved reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement.
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The administration has also revoked visas from foreigners accused of calling for violence or abusing US immigration rules.
Some people lost visas after comments praising the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to the State Department.
Washington has also targeted Mexican political figures.
Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, the son of former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, said this month that the United States had revoked his visa.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the decision and sought evidence supporting the action. Reuters reported that the wider campaign had affected several Mexican political figures.
Courts Push Back Against Some Visa Restrictions
Trump made tougher immigration enforcement a major part of his 2024 presidential campaign.
Since returning to office, his administration has tightened controls on undocumented migration as well as several legal immigration routes.
It has strengthened scrutiny of visa holders, introduced tougher application requirements and expanded online vetting.
The State Department announced in March that it was expanding online presence reviews to additional categories of visa applicants. Some applicants must make their social media profiles public for vetting purposes.
Pigott said on Tuesday that the administration wanted to make clear that a visa is a privilege, “not a right.”
However, several Trump administration immigration measures have faced court challenges.
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Last Friday, US District Judge Jeannette Vargas struck down a policy that suspended immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries.
The affected list included Pakistan, Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand and Yemen, among many others.
The judge found that the State Department had exceeded its legal authority by imposing a broad nationality-based suspension.
That case involved immigrant visas and is separate from the new plan targeting B-1 and B-2 visa holders who seek asylum.
The latest revocation plan could also face legal challenges as the government begins implementing it.
For now, the State Department has not published a final number of affected visa holders or a complete timetable.
Officials say the reviews will continue on a rolling basis as the administration expands its scrutiny of temporary visitors and asylum claims.
