Up to 200,000 people who entered the U.S. on temporary business or tourism visas could lose those visas under a Trump administration review focused on travelers who later applied for asylum.
Officials are examining B-1 and B-2 visas granted over 10 years, from 2016 through 2026. The Associated Press reported that visa revocation of this scale would exceed any previous actions in U.S. history.
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State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the State Department and Department of Homeland Security are reviewing cases involving people who arrived on temporary visas and later entered the asylum system.
“These types of visas are issued with a clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home,” Pigott told The Wall Street Journal.
What losing the visa would mean
The plan has not been finalized.
According to the AP, State Department documents and two U.S. officials indicate the government could begin announcing revocations within weeks. Pigott did not estimate how many people ultimately could lose their visas, saying the government would continue reviewing them over time.
Losing a business or tourism visa would not automatically result in deportation.
People with unresolved asylum cases could continue to pursue those claims even if the government revokes their prior business or tourism status.
B-1 visas are used for certain temporary business trips. B-2 visas cover tourism and other personal travel, including some family and medical visits.
Applicants are expected to show that their stay will be temporary. Current B-1 and B-2 applicants also must state that they do not intend to seek asylum.
Temporary visas and asylum
The administration says the review targets people it believes entered the country as temporary visitors while intending to remain in the country through the asylum system.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized that practice Monday, writing on X that people are “fed up with bogus asylum claims.”
“Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law,” Landau wrote.
People already in the United States may seek asylum based on a fear of persecution in their home countries. Removing a temporary visa would not, by itself, determine whether an asylum request is ultimately granted.
Visa restrictions expand
The proposal follows a series of changes to visa policy since Trump began his second term.
Other steps have included restrictions tied to nationality, financial bond requirements for some applicants and broader examination of applicants’ social media activity.
The State Department said this month that it had already canceled more than 175,000 visas for a range of reasons, including criminal conduct, violations of visa conditions and behavior officials characterized as a threat to the country.
The Journal also reported that the administration revoked visas from international students and immigrants who commented on the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Birth tourism also in focus
The administration is separately pursuing new restrictions tied to birthright citizenship.
Trump signed executive orders this month aimed at limiting who qualifies for citizenship at birth and stopping tourists from traveling to the United States primarily to give birth.
The administration uses the term “birth tourism” for cases in which a temporary visitor comes to the U.S. to give birth, allowing the child to receive citizenship at birth.
Courts, including the Supreme Court, have blocked earlier Trump efforts to restrict birthright citizenship.
Plan could face court challenges
The asylum-related visa plan could also trigger litigation if the administration moves forward.
AP reported that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shared information about asylum requests with the State Department before officials began screening current B-1 and B-2 visa holders.
The final number of revocations remains uncertain.
If implemented, the policy would broaden the administration’s visa enforcement effort to include people who entered on temporary visas and later sought permission to remain through asylum.
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