U.S. State Department Targets Vulnerable Asylum Seekers with Unprecedented Visa Revocation Plan
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The State Department is considering stripping up to 200,000 business and tourist visas from foreign nationals who have sought asylum, a move that would mark the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history and further criminalize those fleeing hardship.
The United States is preparing a draconian plan to cancel up to 200,000 B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who have applied for or are seeking asylum, according to State Department documents and interviews with officials cited by the Associated Press. This sweeping measure, if enacted, would target some of the most vulnerable people—those seeking safety and a better life—by stripping them of their legal status. The State Department expects to announce the proposal in the coming weeks and will work with the Department of Homeland Security to identify the affected visas, raising concerns about privacy and due process.
"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, framing asylum seekers as opportunists rather than recognizing their legitimate need for protection.
The revocation would not automatically lead to removal proceedings; most individuals with pending asylum cases would be moved to a different immigration status, losing their business or tourist designation while their asylum claims continue. However, this bureaucratic maneuver only adds further uncertainty and instability to the lives of people already facing immense hardship.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized the practice of using short-term visas to seek asylum, posting on the social media platform X that asylum should not be used as a loophole to bypass immigration law. Such rhetoric ignores the reality that many asylum seekers have no other legal pathway to safety.
The proposal follows a broader trend of harsh, exclusionary visa policies under the Trump administration, which has increased scrutiny of applicants, required additional documentation, and previously revoked about 175,000 visas for criminal convictions or political speech—often targeting marginalized communities and dissenters.