The United States is moving toward a sweeping cancellation of U.S. business and tourist visas held by foreigners who have sought asylum, a measure that could affect as many as 200,000 people and become the largest mass visa revocation in American history.
The planned action would cover B1 business and B2 tourist visas issued from 2016 through 2026.
State Department officials are working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify visa holders who entered the country as temporary visitors and subsequently filed asylum claims.
The State Department has not publicly confirmed the potential number of people affected.
Spokesman Tommy Pigott said the review would proceed on a rolling basis and that the total would remain fluid. The Associated Press reported the potential scale of the operation after obtaining State Department documents and speaking with two U.S. officials.
The revocations would not necessarily result in their immediate deportation, officials said. They said most of those with asylum cases currently pending would be recategorized but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers.https://t.co/rcDtxyfgeY
— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) August 25, 2026
The cancellation of a visa would not, by itself, mean immediate deportation. Foreigners with pending asylum cases could continue pursuing those claims, but would lose the B1 or B2 status under which they entered the country.
The Washington Post likewise reported that the revocations are expected to be carried out incrementally rather than in a single sweep.
The move is part of a much broader effort by President Trump’s administration to tighten legal as well as illegal immigration.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration has already revoked more than 175,000 visas in cases involving alleged criminal conduct, visa violations or security concerns, while also targeting international students and tightening other immigration pathways.
🚨 MASSIVE MOVE COMING, UP TO 200,000 VISAS REVOKED
The Trump administration is preparing the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.
Target: up to 200,000 foreigners.
These are people who entered on business or tourism visas… then immediately filed for asylum to stay… pic.twitter.com/mwRZErZv4C
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) August 24, 2026
B1 visas are generally intended for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment. Current applicants are required to demonstrate that they intend to leave the United States and affirm that they will not seek asylum.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has defended the crackdown, accusing some visitors of using temporary visas as a route to remain permanently in the United States through asylum applications. The administration has increasingly portrayed such claims as an abuse of the visitor-visa system.
The State Department documents indicate that the government began examining current B1 and B2 holders after receiving information from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about asylum applications. Any final action is expected to draw legal challenges.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
