Trump administration considers major review of B1 and B2 visas issued to visitors who later sought asylum in the United States
The Trump administration is preparing a sweeping move that could target the business and tourist visas of nearly 200,000 foreign nationals who have previously applied for asylum in the United States or are seeking refugee status, according to the Associated Press, citing official documents and US officials.
Under the plan, the US State Department is considering revoking B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to visa holders who subsequently filed asylum applications. The review is being conducted in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
If implemented, the measure would reportedly rank among the largest visa-revocation operations in US history and could face legal challenges and court appeals.
Visa Revocation Does Not Mean Immediate Deportation
Officials emphasized that the cancellation of a visa would not automatically result in the immediate deportation of everyone affected.
Individuals with pending asylum applications could be subject to separate immigration procedures, depending on their circumstances and legal status in the United States.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said Washington is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to review and revoke nonimmigrant visas issued to foreign nationals who entered the country as short-term visitors and later sought asylum with the intention of remaining in the US permanently.
He added that the final number of visas that could be revoked has not yet been determined, as the review and implementation process remains ongoing.
US Tightens Oversight of Tourist and Business Visas
The potential move comes as the Trump administration continues to tighten immigration and visa policies.
In recent months, the administration has introduced additional requirements for visa applicants, including expanded information about their social media activity, as well as additional fees and financial guarantees in certain cases.
The B1 visa is generally used for business-related travel and professional visits, while the B2 visa covers tourism, family visits and medical treatment.
US officials have criticized cases in which individuals enter the country using visitor visas and subsequently apply for asylum, arguing that the asylum system should not be used to circumvent US immigration laws.
Large-Scale Visa Revocations
Reports indicate that the State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the past 18 months in cases involving individuals linked to criminal convictions or charges, along with other cases cited by the administration on immigration or policy-related grounds.
The exact number of B1 and B2 visa holders who previously filed asylum applications remains unclear, meaning the number of people ultimately affected by the proposed measures has yet to be determined.
The developments come as the Trump administration continues to expand its immigration crackdown, including measures targeting asylum seekers, visa holders and what the administration describes as “birth tourism.”
