The Trump administration announced plans to revoke non-immigrant visas for foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors but subsequently applied for or are seeking asylum status, according to a State Department spokesperson. The move would represent the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.
A State Department representative said the administration is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security "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 targeted visas include B-1 business visas and B-2 tourism visas issued between 2016 and 2026. Individuals holding these visas who have filed asylum applications or are in the process of seeking asylum protection would lose their legal authorization to remain in the country. Officials characterize the action as closing what they view as a loophole in the immigration system.
The scale of this proposed action exceeds any previous mass visa cancellation by the federal government. Those affected could face removal proceedings. The administration has not yet announced the specific timeline or implementation details for revoking the visas.
People who arrive on temporary business or tourism visas are not authorized to work long-term or reside permanently in the United States. However, asylum seekers typically apply for protection after arriving in the country, claiming they face persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The asylum application process frequently takes months or years to resolve, and applicants generally remain in the country while their cases are pending.
The revocation plan could affect asylum seekers at various stages of the process, including those who recently filed applications and those awaiting court hearings. Immigration advocates have previously argued that many asylum seekers who enter on temporary visas do so because they lack alternative legal pathways to reach the United States and request protection.
The administration's proposal represents a significant escalation in its immigration enforcement approach since taking office. It comes as the Trump administration pursues multiple policies intended to tighten immigration procedures, including new restrictions on visa duration for foreign journalists and foreign students.
The revocation effort aligns with the administration's broader immigration crackdown, which has also included deportation agreements with other countries. Earlier this month, the first group of deportees under a new agreement arrived in Liberia as part of arrangements that could ultimately send as many as 1,200 people from the United States to the West African nation.