The Trump administration is considering a sweeping move that could strip as many as 200,000 foreign nationals of their U.S. business and tourist visas after they applied for or sought asylum in the country.
If carried out, the move could mark the largest mass visa cancellation and is expected to face legal challenges.
The State Department is expected to announce the policy in the coming weeks, unless the plan is revised or challenged beforehand. Under the proposal, B1 business and B2 tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 could be revoked if their holders have previously sought asylum or are currently pursuing asylum in the United States.
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The effort is being developed in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, according to State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two U.S. officials.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that the administration is working with DHS to identify visa holders who entered the country as temporary visitors but later filed for asylum.
“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,” Pigott said.
He did not provide an estimate of how many visas could ultimately be revoked. Pigott said the process would continue on a rolling basis, meaning the number could change as the administration reviews individual cases.
The proposed visa cancellations would not automatically mean that the affected individuals would be deported from the United States.
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People with asylum applications already pending could instead be placed under a different immigration classification, according to the officials. However, they would no longer retain their B1 or B2 status, which allows foreign nationals to enter the U.S. temporarily for business or tourism.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the planned revocations have not yet been finalized.
The proposal marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown. It also puts renewed attention on the distinction between temporary visitor status and the asylum system, as the administration moves to more closely scrutinize foreign nationals who enter the country legally but later seek to remain permanently.
If the plan moves forward, affected visa holders could challenge the government’s actions in court, potentially setting up another major legal battle over the administration’s immigration policies.