The Trump administration is planning to revoke the visas of around 200,000 immigrants who originally entered the United States on temporary visas and then applied for asylum. According to State Department documents and two officials familiar with the matter, those who arrived on B1 and B2 visas for tourism or business could be the ones affected. If the plan is enacted, it would be the largest visa revocation program in the U.S., as the current administration seeks to deliver on President Donald Trump's promise to deport record numbers of immigrants either in the U.S. illegally or who had overstayed their visas.
While the plan will be carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), officials there deferred to the State Department when reached by Newsweek Monday afternoon. "Under President Trump and Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio's leadership, we are making clear that a visa is a privilege — not a right," Tommy Pigott, State Department spokesperson, told Newsweek in a statement. "We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently." The visas at the center of the administration's latest move are among the most commonly issued U.S. travel documents.
B-1 visas are designed for short-term business visitors, including people attending meetings, conferences, negotiations or other professional activities. B-2 visas are intended for tourism, family visits, medical treatment and similar temporary travel purposes. In many cases, applicants receive a combined B-1/B-2 visa that permits both types of travel.
Unlike immigrant visas or green cards, B visas are considered nonimmigrant visas, meaning applicants are expected to demonstrate that they intend to visit the United States temporarily and return to their home country. They do not provide a direct pathway to permanent residence, employment authorization or long-term legal status. "These types of visas are issued with the clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home.
Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud—which is grounds for visa revocation," Piggott said. "This is an ongoing process as we uphold the integrity of our visa and asylum laws." The State Department is reportedly preparing to revoke B-1 and B-2 visas issued from 2016 to 2026 to people who have sought asylum in the United States, a move that could affect as many as 200,000. If implemented, it would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history.
Immigration advocates and legal experts are likely to challenge the move, as U.S. law does allow people physically present in the country to seek asylum regardless of how they entered, provided they meet statutory requirements and are not otherwise barred from protection. The expected legal battle could become one of the most consequential tests yet of the administration's authority to reshape immigration policy through visa restrictions. A central issue in the debate is whether applying for asylum after arriving on a visitor visa should automatically be viewed as evidence that the visa was obtained under false pretenses.
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