U.S. State Department Launches Unprecedented Attack on Asylum Seekers by Revoking Up to 200,000 B1/B2 Visas
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In a sweeping move that threatens the rights and dignity of asylum seekers, the State Department plans to cancel business and tourism visas for up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have sought protection in the U.S., continuing a legacy of xenophobic policies.
The State Department is preparing to cancel up to 200,000 B1 (business) and B2 (tourism) visas issued from 2016 to 2026 for foreign nationals who have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, according to internal documents obtained by the Associated Press and two officials. This mass revocation, orchestrated in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, represents the largest single attack on the rights of migrants in U.S. history and is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
"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, echoing rhetoric that demonizes vulnerable people seeking safety. He added that the number of revocations will be dynamic and carried out on a rolling basis, leaving thousands in limbo and uncertainty.
Officials admitted the cancellations would not automatically lead to deportation; instead, most affected individuals would be re-classified, stripped of their business or tourism status, and left in a precarious legal state while their asylum cases remain pending. This policy is yet another escalation in the ongoing assault on immigrants and refugees, following the Trump administration’s draconian tightening of visa controls, increased surveillance, and discriminatory bans targeting people from marginalized nations.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau posted on X that some people use tourist and business visas as a “loophole” to obtain asylum, referencing a single 2015 case involving a Colombian citizen—an anecdote now weaponized to justify collective punishment. Current B1 and B2 applicants are now forced to affirm they will not seek asylum and must prove intent to return home, a requirement that undermines the very purpose of asylum protections.
The State Department has already revoked about 175,000 visas in the past 18 months for individuals convicted of crimes or, disturbingly, for those who have publicly criticized U.S. policies. It has also targeted so-called “birth tourism,” a term used to stigmatize families seeking a better future for their children. These measures reflect a deeply troubling trend toward exclusion and repression, undermining America’s historic commitment to refuge and human rights.