The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke business and tourist visas of foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, the State Department said. It is not yet clear how many visas will be affected, but the Associated Press estimates, citing State Department documents and two U.S. officials, that number could be as high as 200,000. If implemented, it would be the largest visa revocation in U.S. history.
The State Department is expected to announce the revocations in the coming weeks. They concern so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought or are currently seeking asylum. These visas are generally issued for business travel, tourism, family visits or medical treatment.
“We are working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors but have subsequently applied for asylum to remain here permanently,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, referring to the Department of Homeland Security. He declined to provide an exact number, saying the number “remains dynamic and may change continuously.”
