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The United States is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the country, in what could become the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history.
The planned action is expected to target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who subsequently sought asylum. The U.S. State Department is coordinating the process with the Department of Homeland Security.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said officials were working to identify foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors but later filed for asylum in an attempt to remain permanently. The department stressed that the number of affected visa holders remains dynamic and that revocations would take place on a rolling basis.
The revocation of a visa would not automatically mean immediate deportation. Officials said many people with pending asylum applications would instead lose their status as business or tourism visitors while their cases continued under the applicable immigration process.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has defended the crackdown, arguing that asylum should not be used as a loophole to circumvent U.S. immigration laws.
The proposed action comes as the administration of President Donald Trump continues to tighten U.S. immigration and visa policies. The State Department has already revoked about 175,000 visas over the past 18 months for reasons including criminal convictions or allegations and other policy-related grounds.
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