Trump Administration Prepares Largest Mass Visa Revocation in U.S. History, Targeting Up to 200,000 Asylum Seekers

The White House said August 24, 2026 that it is preparing to revoke as many as 200,000 B1/B2 (business and tourism) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to foreigners who later applied for or are now seeking asylum — what officials called the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the department is '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.' The move is separate from roughly 175,000 visas already revoked over the past 18 months for criminal convictions, accusations, or political speech. Revocation would not necessarily trigger immediate deportation, but would strip recipients of their status as short-term visitors while their asylum cases are pending, and is expected to draw immediate legal challenges.