The Trump administration is preparing to undertake what would constitute the largest mass revocation of visas in United States history, targeting between 100,000 and 200,000 holders of B1 and B2 visas who have sought or are seeking asylum status. The State Department, working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, is expected to announce the revocations in the coming weeks, according to department documents and officials familiar with the matter.
B1 visas are typically issued for business travel while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits, and medical care. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott characterized the action as targeting foreigners who enter the country claiming to be short-term visitors but subsequently file for asylum to remain permanently. He noted that the exact number of affected visas remains uncertain and that revocations will occur on a rolling basis as the process unfolds.
According to officials, those whose visas are revoked would not necessarily face immediate deportation. Instead, individuals with pending asylum cases would be recategorized and lose their status as business or tourism travelers, though they could potentially continue their asylum proceedings. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the policy on social media, asserting that asylum should not function as a mechanism to circumvent immigration law.
Since beginning his second term, President Trump’s administration has progressively tightened visa restrictions, including enhanced social media background checks, requirements for costly processing bonds, and visa bans for citizens of certain countries. Within the past 18 months alone, the State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas for individuals with criminal convictions or accusations, as well as for those who have publicly criticized U.S. policies. The department is also pursuing broader immigration restrictions, including efforts against so-called birth tourism and multiple attempts to eliminate birthright citizenship, though courts have previously rejected the latter challenge.
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