The administration is reportedly preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners seeking asylum in the US
The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke the visas of up to 200,000 foreigners, AP reported on Tuesday, citing State Department documents and two US officials familiar with the plan. The reported move, which targets business and tourism applicants who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum, could be the largest mass visa revocation in US history.
US President Donald Trump has pursued a sweeping immigration crackdown since returning to office in January 2025, including increased deportations, expanded detention efforts, and tighter restrictions on visa applicants.
The visa revocation process, which has not yet been finalized and could be challenged in court, is expected to begin in the coming weeks and would target B1 business and B2 tourist visas issued since 2016, AP said.
“We are coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the US claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told AP.
Pigott did not provide an estimate of how many visas could be affected, adding that the process would remain ongoing and the number of cases could change.
The measure would not necessarily result in immediate deportation, AP noted, adding that most people with pending asylum applications could be moved into another immigration category while losing their status as business or tourist visitors. Under the new approach, current applicants would reportedly have to demonstrate that they do not intend to seek asylum in the US and provide evidence that they plan to return to their home countries.
As part of its broader immigration campaign, the Trump administration has taken a series of measures to tighten controls on foreign nationals seeking to enter or remain in the US.
Earlier this month, the State Department said it revoked more than 175,000 visas since Trump returned to office. The affected individuals include people who violated visa terms or were accused or convicted of crimes. AP reported that the total also includes people who have publicly criticized US policies.
In January, the department imposed an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries while it reassessed screening and vetting procedures.
The administration has significantly stepped up deportation efforts as part of the campaign. In September 2025, DHS reported that more than 2 million people had been removed or had self-deported from the US during Trump’s first 250 days in office.
The Trump administration has also moved to tighten rules for work visas for highly skilled professionals. A new DHS proposal would impose an additional $103,265 fee on cap-subject H-1B petitions filed by US employers. DHS estimates that around 85,000 petitions annually would be subject to the proposed fee.
