Trump administration plans to revoke more than 200,000 visas of asylum seekers
This will be the largest mass visa revocation in US history
Published August 25, 2026
United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump’s administration is all set to cancel over 200,000 business and tourist visas of people currently seeking asylum in the States, marking the biggest mass visa revocation in the country’s history.
According to AP News, two officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that the government was planning to revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026. The policy is expected to be announced in the coming few weeks.
State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that the department was working with the DHS to identify those individuals who came to the U.S. as short term visitors but later filed for asylum to stay there permanently.
Pigott did not confirm the figure of how many visas could be cancelled, adding, “the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.”
The officials who spoke to the publication on conditions of anonymity said the visa revocation of those whose asylum cases are pending in courts would not result in their immediate deportation; however, they will lose their status as tourist or business travelers.
This comes as the U.S. government continues its anti-immigration crackdown. Earlier, the Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also expressed his frustration over bogus asylum claims.
He said: “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.”
