US plans to revoke business, tourism visas of 200,000 asylum seekers

What the report says

The United States is preparing to cancel business and tourism visas held by as many as 200,000 people who have applied for asylum or are seeking asylum, according to an Al Jazeera report based on Associated Press reporting. The AP said the move could become the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history, if it is carried out.

The action, which the State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks, would involve coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. The reported plan would target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026. According to officials cited by the AP, the people affected would not necessarily be deported immediately; many would instead be shifted into another immigration category while their asylum cases continue.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the department is working with DHS to identify and revoke nonimmigrant visas from people who entered the US as short-term visitors and later sought asylum. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also criticized what he described as misuse of tourist and business visas to pursue asylum claims. The report comes amid a broader tightening of visa rules under President Donald Trump’s second term, including more scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity and other restrictions. As background, asylum is a legal protection sought by people who fear returning to their home countries, although the report notes the administration is framing some claims as improper use of the system.