Trump administration prepares historic visa revocation for asylum seekers

The administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing a significant measure that could revoke visas for as many as 200,000 foreign nationals in the United States. The initiative specifically targets individuals who entered the country on temporary visitor visas and subsequently applied for asylum.

Documents from the State Department indicate the plan focuses on non-immigrant visas for business and tourism (B1 and B2 categories) issued between 2016 and 2026. The State Department intends to formally announce the official plan in the coming weeks, in direct coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for U.S. diplomacy, confirmed that both departments are actively working to identify foreigners who arrived on short-stay visas and later sought asylum to remain in the country permanently. Pigott clarified that the number of cancellations is not fixed and the process will be dynamic and gradually implemented across the territory. The cancellation of travel documents does not automatically mean immediate deportation for those affected.

U.S. officials explained that most foreign nationals with pending asylum cases will retain their open legal processes, although they will formally lose their immigration status as tourists or business travelers. This move comes as Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has criticized the use of temporary visas to manage permanent stays, arguing that the system is overwhelmed by unfounded claims. Landau emphasized that asylum should not be used as a loophole to circumvent immigration laws.

The proposed policy is not yet final and may face legal challenges. If implemented at the projected scale, it would mark the largest mass visa cancellation in U.S. history. Currently, applicants for B1 and B2 visas are required to declare they will not seek asylum in the U.S. and demonstrate ties to their home countries.

“

Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration laws; rather, it’s supposed to provide a narrow safe harbor for persons persecuted because of their “race, religion, nationality,…