U.S. officials say the Trump administration intends to revoke up to 200,000 business (B1) and tourism (B2) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the United States, a move that would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history and could face legal challenges.

The State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify visa holders whose applications for short‑term visits were followed by asylum filings. Officials said the revocations would not automatically result in immediate deportation; most pending asylum cases would be recategorized, causing those individuals to lose their status as business or tourism travelers.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said, “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.” He added that the total number of revocations is dynamic and will be determined on a rolling basis.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau posted on X that “People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” and cited a 2015 case involving a Colombian citizen who entered on a tourist visa and later applied for asylum. He described asylum as not intended to be a loophole for circumventing immigration law.

The administration has previously increased visa scrutiny, demanded extensive social media information, required higher bond payments, and moved to restrict birth tourism. In the past 18 months, the State Department revoked about 175,000 visas for individuals convicted or accused of crimes ranging from drunken driving to violent offenses, as well as for those who publicly criticized U.S. policies, particularly in the Middle East.

Screening of current B1 and B2 holders began after the State Department received information from the Citizenship and Immigration Services about asylum requests. The number of visas affected remains undisclosed, and legal challenges are expected. The administration has not provided a timeline for the announcement, which is anticipated in the coming weeks.