US to strip visas from asylum seekers in new immigration push
The State Department announced a plan to cancel non‑immigrant visas of anyone who has filed an asylum claim, marking the biggest mass revocation in US history.
Donald Trump's administration disclosed on Monday that it will revoke the B1 and B2 non‑immigrant visas of foreign nationals who have applied for asylum in the United States. The move targets visas issued between 2016 and 2026 and is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security to identify those who entered as short‑term visitors but later sought permanent stay.
"We are working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the non‑immigrant 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," a State Department spokesman said.
The State Department did not give a precise figure, but the Associated Press estimates up to 200,000 business and tourist visas could be affected, the largest single revocation effort on record.
Why it matters
Revoking B1/B2 visas does not automatically lead to deportation, but it strips claimants of their legal status as visitors, potentially leaving them in limbo while their asylum cases proceed. Rights groups warn the approach could fuel claims of racial profiling and erode confidence in the US asylum system, which has long been a safety net for refugees fleeing persecution.
What comes next
Implementation will require a massive data‑matching effort between visa records and asylum filings. Courts are expected to see lawsuits challenging the revocations on constitutional grounds. Meanwhile, the administration says the step is intended to curb what it calls “frivolous” asylum claims and bolster domestic security.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau earlier used the platform X to argue the immigration system is overwhelmed by such claims, signalling that further restrictions may follow.
As the policy rolls out, businesses that rely on short‑term foreign visitors, from conference organisers to tourism operators, could feel the impact, while the broader debate over US immigration reform intensifies.
