Trump Administration Targets Up to 200,000 Asylum Seekers in Visa Revocation Plan

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreign nationals who entered the country on business or tourism visas and subsequently applied for asylum, in what represents another escalation of the government’s immigration crackdown.

The proposed action was disclosed by the US State Department, which said it was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify visa holders who had initially entered the country as temporary visitors but later sought to remain through asylum applications.

A State Department spokesperson said the agencies were working together “To identify and revoke the non-immigrant 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.”

The department did not provide an official figure for the number of visas that could be affected.

However, the Associated Press reported that as many as 200,000 foreigners who received business and tourism visas between 2016 and 2026 could potentially be affected, citing State Department documents and two US officials.

B1 and B2 visa holders targeted

The planned action would primarily affect holders of B1 and B2 visas.

B1 visas are generally issued for temporary business-related travel, while B2 visas cover tourism and other short-term visits.

According to the AP report, the State Department intends to revoke B1 and B2 visas belonging to people who have either filed asylum claims or currently have asylum applications pending.

The proposed visa cancellations would not automatically mean that every affected individual would be deported immediately.

Rather, people with pending asylum cases could be placed under a different immigration classification while losing the status that allowed them to enter or remain in the United States as business or tourism visitors.

The move is part of a broader immigration enforcement campaign launched by Trump since his return to the White House.

Trump administration steps up immigration enforcement

Trump has expanded immigration enforcement through measures targeting both undocumented migrants and some categories of legal immigrants.

The administration has pursued visa and green-card cancellations alongside a wider deportation campaign, arguing that the measures are necessary to strengthen national security and ensure compliance with US immigration laws.

Earlier on Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticised the country’s asylum system, alleging on X that the US immigration system “has long been swamped by frivolous asylum claims.”

The State Department had also disclosed earlier this month that the administration had revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals.

The latest proposal therefore adds asylum applicants who entered the country on temporary business or tourism visas to the administration’s growing list of immigration enforcement targets.

Rights groups raise concerns

The Trump administration has maintained that its immigration policies are intended to protect the country and enforce existing immigration laws.

However, rights organisations have criticised the broader crackdown, arguing that some of the measures threaten due process and free-speech protections.

They have also expressed concern about the potential impact on ethnic minorities and alleged that intensified immigration enforcement could increase the risk of racial profiling.

Although Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign focused heavily on restricting illegal immigration, his administration has also introduced measures affecting legal immigration, including new and significantly higher fees for some work-visa applicants.

The administration’s immigration policies have meanwhile faced a number of legal challenges, leaving some aspects of the crackdown subject to ongoing court proceedings.

The proposed revocation of B1 and B2 visas for asylum applicants could further intensify the debate over the balance between immigration enforcement, national security and the rights of people seeking protection in the United States.