The Trump administration has announced plans to revoke 200,000 visas held by foreigners falsely claiming short-term visitor status, marking the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.
The sweeping action will target business and tourism visas (B1 and B2) issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who sought or are currently seeking asylum within the United States. B1 visas are granted to business travelers, while B2 visas cover tourists and others traveling temporarily to visit family members or receive medical care. The initiative aims to address the misuse of short-term visas as a pathway to permanent residency through fraudulent asylum claims.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated on X (formerly Twitter): “People in the U.S. and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims. Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration laws… But the system has long been swamped by frivolous asylum claims, meaning that it takes years to adjudicate whether applicants are actually entitled to asylum—during which time they can typically work, have children, and otherwise put down roots in our country.”
The revocation will be implemented over coming weeks through a joint effort by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott added: “We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant 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.”
Over 175,000 visas have already been revoked during President Donald J. Trump’s second administration for criminal or policy-related reasons. The State Department previously declared: “Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the State Department will continue to identify, investigate, and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who threaten the safety of the American people. A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.”
This upcoming measure would set a new record, surpassing the 100,000 visas revoked by the Trump administration in 2025.
