ALERT: U.S. to Revoke 200,000 B1 and B2 Visas — Who Is at Risk?

The Trump administration is preparing the largest mass visa revocation in United States history. The State Department plans to cancel up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visas for people who applied for asylum after entering as temporary visitors.

The measure became known on Monday, August 24, through documents reviewed by The Associated Press. It would mainly affect those who entered the country for tourism or business and then requested asylum protection to stay permanently.

If implemented, it would be the largest visa revocation program in the country’s history. It comes as the administration pushes for sustained increases in deportations of people without legal status or who remained longer than authorized by their visa.

What the State Department Confirms

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the agency is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on this plan. DHS is the federal agency responsible for border security and enforcement of immigration laws.

«We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have arrived in the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but who later apply for asylum to stay here permanently,» Pigott said, according to AP.

«Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, we are making clear that a visa is a privilege, not a right,» the spokesperson added in an official statement. Pigott did not provide a definitive figure, as the process will be ongoing and phased.

What B1 and B2 Visas at Risk Are

B-1 visas are issued to people visiting the United States for business purposes, such as business meetings or conferences. B-2 visas are used primarily for tourism, family visits, or temporary medical treatment.

The State Department will review B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who later applied for asylum. The total number of people affected could reach 200,000, according to documents cited by AP.

There is currently uncertainty about how many holders of these visas actually applied for asylum. It is also unclear how many would be affected in practice once the case-by-case review process begins.

What Revocation Really Means

The administration has not yet finalized the revocations. Officials indicated that the measure would not automatically result in immediate deportation of all affected people.

Those with a pending asylum case before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) would, in most cases, be reclassified. However, they would lose their previous status as business visitors or tourists, according to officials cited by AP.

This distinction is key for affected families. Losing a B1 or B2 visa does not automatically mean losing the right to have an immigration judge rule on an asylum application already filed.

The Legal Framework Behind Asylum

U.S. immigration law allows anyone physically present in the country to apply for asylum, regardless of how they entered. That right is established in the Immigration and Nationality Act, in effect since 1980.

The Trump administration argues that some asylum applications are used to circumvent the regular immigration system. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended that position in a recent post on his official X account.

«People in the United States and around the world are fed up with false asylum claims,» Landau wrote. «Asylum should not be a legal loophole to evade immigration law,» the official added.

The Other Side: What Immigration Attorneys Say

Immigration attorneys point out that a person’s circumstances can change after entering the United States. Someone can enter legally for tourism and then learn of conditions in their country of origin that make them fear returning.

The legitimacy of each application