US plans to revoke non-immigrant visas of 200,000 asylum seekers

WASHINGTON — The United States is preparing to revoke business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are seeking asylum status in the country, marking its latest step in a sweeping immigration crackdown.A State Department spokesman said it was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security “to identify and revoke the non-immigrant 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.”The State Department statement did not specify the number of visas that will be revoked in the process.According to the Associated Press, the number of foreigners whose business and tourism visas is planned to be revoked is around 200,000.Citing State Department documents, the AP reported on Monday that if the plan goes ahead, it would be the “largest single mass revocation of visas” in US history.The State Department will revoke so-called ‌B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 ‌and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum ​or are now seeking asylum, the ‌AP added. The B1 and B2 non-immigrant visas are issued for ‌business and tourism travel.The visa revocations would not necessarily result in immediate deportation, the AP report said, adding that most of those with asylum cases currently pending would be re-categorized but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers.Earlier ‌on Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau alleged on X that the American immigration system “has long been swamped ⁠by frivolous ⁠asylum claims.”The State Department said earlier this month that under the Trump administration, it has revoked more than 175,000 visas of foreign nationals.Trump has pursued an immigration crackdown that includes revocations of visas and green cards and an aggressive deportation drive.He says the crackdown aims to improve domestic security.Rights groups say the crackdown has violated free speech and due process rights and created an unsafe environment, particularly for ethnic minorities, who have raised concerns about racial profiling.While Trump campaigned in 2024 on a platform of stopping illegal immigration, his administration has also made legal immigration more ​difficult — for example, by imposing ​new and expensive fees for applicants of certain work visas. The government’s crackdown has faced legal challenges.