WASHINGTON: US Visas could face mass cancellations as the Trump administration prepares to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have sought asylum in the United States, according to Associated Press reports citing State Department documents and US officials.
If implemented, the measure would represent the largest single mass revocation of US visas.
The State Department plans to target B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have applied for asylum or currently have asylum cases pending.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that officials are working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify affected visa holders.
Pigott said the administration wants to revoke visas issued to people who entered the US as short-term visitors but later sought asylum to remain in the country.
He did not confirm the reported figure of 200,000. He said the number remains subject to change and that officials would carry out the revocations on a rolling basis.
The cancellations would not automatically lead to deportation. US officials said most people with pending asylum cases would move into another immigration category while their cases continue.
However, they would lose their B1 or B2 visitor status.
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B1 visas generally cover business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment. Applicants must demonstrate that they intend to return to their home countries and do not plan to seek asylum.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticised people who enter the country on visitor visas and later seek asylum. He argued that some applicants use the system to bypass US immigration laws.
The proposed action forms part of President Donald Trump’s wider immigration crackdown. His administration has introduced stricter visa screening, demanded additional information from applicants and imposed new requirements on certain travellers.
The State Department has also revoked about 175,000 visas over the past 18 months, according to the reports. Previous cancellations involved people accused or convicted of crimes and others whose cases raised concerns for US officials.
The administration has separately targeted so-called birth tourism and continued efforts to restrict immigration and increase deportations.
Several Trump administration immigration policies have faced legal challenges. Rights groups have also raised concerns about due process, free speech and potential racial profiling.
If the State Department proceeds with the reported plan, the cancellation of up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visas would represent an unprecedented mass visa action.
Officials are expected to provide further details in the coming weeks. The final number of affected visa holders remains uncertain.
