U.S. Prepares for Historic Mass Visa Revocation

The United States is gearing up to revoke B1 and B2 visas from up to 200,000 foreigners seeking asylum. Officials say this decision would mark the largest visa revocation in the country’s history.

Business and Tourism Visas Targeted

B1 visas serve business travelers, while B2 visas are for tourists, family visits, or medical care. The State Department, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, plans to revoke visas issued between 2016 and 2026. This affects those who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the U.S.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott noted, “We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently.” Pigott declined to specify the number of visas that might be impacted, describing the process as ongoing and dynamic.

Potential Legal Challenges

The revocation may lead to legal challenges. Many affected individuals might not face immediate deportation. However, they could lose their business or tourism traveler status while waiting for asylum cases to process.

The Trump administration has progressively increased restrictions on visa applicants. These measures include scrutinizing social media histories, requiring expensive bonds, and banning visas from certain countries.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized those using tourist and business visas to enter the U.S. and then seek asylum, stating, “People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims.”

Previous Visa Actions

In the last 18 months, the State Department revoked around 175,000 visas for those convicted or accused of crimes. This includes a range of offenses, from drunken driving to robbery, and actions against U.S. policies, especially in the Middle East.

The administration also aims to curb “birth tourism,” with claims that pregnant foreigners are coming to the U.S. to gain birthright citizenship for their children. Legal efforts by Trump to end birthright citizenship have been struck down by courts.

Screening of B1 and B2 visa holders began after the State Department acquired information on asylum requests from the Citizen and Immigration Service.