- The State Department will revoke so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum
- The B1 and B2 non-immigrant visas are issued for business and tourism travel
WASHINGTON: The administration of President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, as part of its broader immigration crackdown.
A State Department spokesperson said Monday that the department was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke non-immigrant visas held by foreign nationals who entered the United States as short-term visitors but subsequently filed, or are in the process of filing, asylum claims.
The department did not disclose how many visas could be revoked. However, The Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported that the measure could affect as many as 200,000 foreign nationals holding business and tourism visas. If implemented on that scale, it would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in US history.
According to the AP report, the State Department plans to revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum. B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism and other temporary visits.
The revocations would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. According to the report, many individuals with pending asylum cases could be placed under a different immigration classification but would no longer retain their status as business or tourism visitors.
Earlier Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on X that the US immigration system had long been overwhelmed by what he described as “frivolous asylum claims.”
The State Department said earlier this month that the Trump administration had revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals since taking office.
The latest move forms part of a broader immigration enforcement campaign pursued by Trump, including visa and green-card revocations and an intensified deportation drive. The administration has said the measures are necessary to strengthen national security and improve immigration enforcement.
Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups, however, have criticized the crackdown, arguing that some measures threaten due process and free-speech protections and could contribute to an environment of heightened scrutiny and racial profiling, particularly affecting ethnic minority communities.
Although Trump campaigned in 2024 on a pledge to curb illegal immigration, his administration has also introduced measures affecting legal immigration, including new and higher fees for applicants seeking certain employment-based visas.
The administration’s immigration policies have faced multiple legal challenges as courts consider disputes over the scope of executive authority and the rights of affected immigrants.
BY: The Times Union
