The State Department plans to revoke B-1 and B-2 visas for some asylum seekers.
Why it matters: The move could upend legal status for as many as 200,000 people and ripple through families, employers and immigration cases. It also signals a major escalation in visa enforcement tied to asylum claims.
- The State Department is preparing to revoke B-1 and B-2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for foreign nationals who applied for or are seeking asylum.
- AP reported the effort could affect up to 200,000 people and would be the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history if carried out at that scale.
- State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the department is coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke visas of people who entered as short-term visitors and later filed for asylum.
- The State Department says B-1/B-2 visitor visas are for temporary business or tourism travel and do not authorize employment in the United States.
The State Department is preparing to revoke B-1 and B-2 nonimmigrant visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, according to AP.
The reported move could affect up to 200,000 people and, if carried out at that scale, would be the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history. The Washington Post reported the action would target people granted B-1/B-2 visas between 2016 and 2026 who have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum, citing State Department plans.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the department is working with DHS to identify and revoke visas of people who came in as short-term visitors and later filed for asylum. "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," Pigott said. He added that the department is "making clear that a visa is a privilege - not a right."
The department's visitor visa guidance says a B-1/B-2 visa is for temporary business or tourism travel and does not authorize employment in the United States. AP reported the action is a visa revocation effort, not immediate deportation, but the move could still strip lawful visitor status and complicate pending asylum cases, employers, families and immigration counsel.
Public reporting reviewed so far does not spell out the exact legal authority, process or timeline for the revocations.
By the numbers
- 200,000 - potential number of visas the move could affect.
- 2016 to 2026 - the visa issuance window targeted in the plan.
- B-1/B-2 - the visitor visa categories at issue.
Yes, but: Public reporting does not yet identify the exact legal authority, whether revocations will be automatic or case by case, or how they will affect pending asylum claims and work authorization.
What's next: The administration has not yet publicly disclosed formal guidance or a Federal Register notice.