WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is gearing up to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners in what could be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history.
The sweep will target holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have sought or are currently seeking asylum, the Associated Press reported Monday, citing State Department documents and U.S. officials.
HOW IT WORKS
B1 visas are generally issued for business travelers. B2 visas are typically given to tourists, foreigners visiting family, or those traveling to the U.S. for medical care.
The State Department is expected to formally announce the revocations — coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security — in the “coming weeks.”
“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,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott told the AP.
Pigott declined to confirm the number of visas that might be revoked, describing the process as “ongoing,” “dynamic,” and one that will be carried out “on a rolling basis.”
NOT AUTOMATIC DEPORTATION — BUT STATUS GONE
Those who have their visas revoked will not necessarily be deported right away, U.S. officials indicated — but they would immediately lose their status as business or tourism travelers.
The move, which is expected to face legal challenges, would be President Trump's latest to tighten the U.S. visa process.
175,000 VISAS ALREADY YANKED
Since the start of Trump's second term, the State Department has already revoked about 175,000 visas for people convicted or accused of criminal activity or who have spoken out publicly against U.S. policies.
The administration has previously moved to scrutinize visa applicants' social media histories, require bonds for visa processing, and banned the issuance of visas to citizens of certain countries.
“ASYLUM ISN'T A LOOPHOLE”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Monday charged that foreign nationals have been using tourist and business visas as a backdoor into the U.S. — only to apply for asylum and attempt to remain in the country indefinitely.
“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote on X. “Asylum isn't supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.”
Under the current process, B1 and B2 visa applicants must affirm that they will not apply for asylum while in the U.S. and prove that they intend to return to their home countries.
BIRTH TOURISM CRACKDOWN
The potential revocations also come after the Supreme Court ruled in June that the Trump administration cannot end birthright citizenship via executive order.
Since the ruling, the administration has moved to crack down on so-called birth tourism — contending that foreign pregnant women have been obtaining tourist visas for the sole purpose of giving birth in the U.S. so their children can obtain birthright citizenship and its benefits.
THE BOTTOM LINE
200,000 visas on the chopping block. A coordinated sweep across two federal departments. And a clear message from the Trump administration: the era of using tourist visas as a pipeline to permanent residency is over.
Legal challenges are all but guaranteed. But the Trump White House has shown zero signs of backing down.
