Visa crackdown widens as Trump administration targets visitors seeking to remain in US through asylum claims

The Donald Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 2,00,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, in what could become the largest single mass visa revocation in US history.The state department is expected to announce the move in the coming weeks, unless the plan is challenged or revised. It would cover B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought asylum or are currently pursuing asylum, news agency AP reported citing state department documents and US officials.“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,” state department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.Pigott did not confirm the number of visas that could be revoked, saying “as the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.”The revocations would not automatically lead to immediate deportation, officials said. Those with pending asylum cases could retain their ability to pursue those claims but would lose their status as business or tourism visitors.The move is part of the administration’s broader tightening of US visa and immigration rules since President Donald Trump began his second term. The government has increased scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity, introduced visa bond requirements and restricted visa issuance to citizens of certain countries.B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment. It was not immediately clear how many current or former B1 and B2 visa holders have sought asylum and would be affected by the planned action.The administration has already revoked about 1,75,000 visas over the past 18 months, including those held by people convicted or accused of crimes such as drunken driving, rape and robbery, as well as some who publicly opposed US policies.