Trump administration plans to revoke visas of foreign nationals seeking asylum

President Donald Trump’s administration on Monday said it plans to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, in the latest move in its sweeping immigration crackdown.

A State Department spokesperson said it was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke non-immigrant visas issued to people who entered the US claiming to be short-term visitors but later filed for asylum to remain in the country permanently.

The department did not specify how many visas would be revoked. However, The Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported that up to 200,000 business and tourism visa holders could be affected.

The planned action would target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought or are currently seeking asylum. B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism and certain other temporary visits.

The revocations would not automatically lead to deportation. According to the AP, people with pending asylum cases would generally retain their ability to pursue those claims but would lose their status as business or tourism visitors.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on Monday that the US immigration system had long been overwhelmed by what he described as “frivolous” asylum claims.

The State Department said earlier this month that the Trump administration had revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals.

Trump has made immigration enforcement a central priority of his administration, including visa and green-card revocations and an aggressive deportation campaign. The administration says the measures are aimed at strengthening national security.

Rights groups, however, have accused the administration of undermining due process and free-speech protections and creating an unsafe environment for immigrants, particularly ethnic minorities. The broader immigration crackdown has also faced legal challenges.