U.S. State Department to Revoke Visas of Asylum Seekers on Temporary Visas

The State Department said it will begin revoking nonimmigrant visas for foreign nationals who entered the United States on short-term visas and subsequently filed asylum claims. Officials estimate the action could affect as many as 200,000 individuals, though revocations will be carried out gradually rather than all at once.

"As the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis," State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott told reporters. He added that the agency is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify visa holders who used tourist or business visas to seek permanent residence through asylum.

"These types of visas are issued with the clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home," Pigott said. "Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud — which is grounds for visa revocation."

The move follows a recent directive that requires consular officers to ask visa applicants whether they have experienced or fear harm in their home country, with a verbal "no" required to proceed with visa issuance. The State Department reported that more than 175,000 visas have already been revoked since the start of President Trump's second term, a sharp increase from the previous month.