The United States government announced in August 2026 it will revoke up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visas held by foreigners who sought asylum after entering the country on tourist or business visas. The targeted visas, issued between 2016 and 2026, mark the largest mass visa revocation in US history, according to State Department documents cited by the Associated Press.
Coordination Between State Department and DHS on Visa Revocations
The U.S. State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and rescind the visas of individuals who initially entered the United States as short-term visitors but subsequently applied for asylum to remain permanently. State Department
spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the revocation process is ongoing, dynamic, and will occur on a rolling basis. He declined to specify a precise number, though officials estimate up to 200,000 visas may be affected.
Visa Revocation Process and Legal Impact
The revocations will remove the business and tourist visa status from those who filed asylum claims but will not necessarily result in immediate deportation. Instead, many affected individuals will be recategorized, losing their nonimmigrant visitor status while their asylum cases remain pending. This approach targets abuse of B1 and B2 visas, which are intended for business travel, tourism, family visits, or medical treatment, but not for
permanent residency through asylum claims.
Official Condemnations of Asylum Abuse
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized the exploitation of tourist and business visas for asylum purposes, stating, “People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims.” He added, “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.” Pigott emphasized, “We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently.” Landau highlighted a case involving a Colombian national who entered on
a tourist visa in 2015 before applying for asylum.
Broader Immigration Restrictions Under Trump Administration
This visa revocation initiative is part of a wider immigration enforcement effort during President Donald Trump’s second term. Previous measures include enhanced social media vetting for visa applicants, new bond requirements for detainees, and bans on visa issuance to citizens from certain countries. The State Department revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the prior 18 months, citing reasons such as criminal convictions and public dissent toward U.S. policy.
The administration has also targeted practices like birth tourism and pursued the termination of birthright citizenship, though courts including the Supreme Court have rejected
these attempts. Critics argue the crackdown infringes on free speech and due process rights and raises risks of racial profiling. The administration maintains its efforts are intended to uphold the integrity of visa and asylum regulations and enhance national security.
