US prepares largest-ever mass visa revocation targeting 200,000 asylum seekers

The U.S. government under the Trump administration is reportedly preparing for a significant move that could revoke visas for as many as 200,000 foreigners seeking asylum. This potential action, described as the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history, is expected to face legal opposition.

Documents obtained by the Associated Press and confirmed by two U.S. officials indicate that the State Department, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is set to revoke B1 and B2 visas. These visas were issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States. A State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, stated that the coordination with DHS aims to identify and revoke non-immigrant visas of those who entered as short-term visitors but later sought to remain permanently.

While the exact number of revocations remains dynamic, officials clarified that these actions would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation. Most individuals with pending asylum cases would be reclassified but would lose their status as business or tourist travelers. This policy shift follows a trend of increased visa restrictions under the Trump administration, including demands for social media history, higher processing fees, and bans for citizens of certain countries.

Furthermore, the administration is also targeting work permits. A proposal has been reintroduced to charge employers a $103,265 fee for hiring foreign workers on H-1B visas, a program crucial for U.S. companies seeking specialized professionals. The DHS justified this fee as a revenue mechanism to cover legal immigration system administration costs. This initiative echoes a similar attempt from September 2025, which was aimed at combating alleged "systemic abuse" of the H-1B program.