Up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visa holders could be affected as the administration intensifies its immigration crackdown

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is preparing a major Trump visa revocation exercise targeting foreigners who entered the country on business or tourism visas before applying for or seeking asylum, with up to 200,000 people potentially affected.

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The proposed action was announced by the US State Department on Monday, August 24, 2026, as part of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown.

The department said it was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke non-immigrant visas held by people who entered the US as short-term visitors but later sought asylum. (AP News)

The State Department has not confirmed that 200,000 people will lose their visas. The figure was reported by The Associated Press, which said it was based on State Department documents and information from two US officials. (AP News)

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the planned action but stressed that the eventual number remained uncertain.

“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. (AP News)

The visas affected would be B1 and B2 visas, which are generally issued to foreign nationals travelling temporarily for business, tourism, family visits, medical treatment and similar purposes.

The proposed action would cover B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought asylum or are currently pursuing asylum claims, according to documents obtained by AP. (AP News)

The revocations are expected to be carried out on a rolling basis, with announcements likely to begin in the coming weeks. (AP News)

Importantly, losing a B1 or B2 visa would not automatically mean immediate deportation.

People with pending asylum applications could instead lose their visitor status while their asylum cases continue through the relevant immigration process, according to US officials cited by AP. (AP News)

The proposed policy has been defended by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, who argued that the asylum system should not become an alternative route for people seeking to remain permanently in the United States after entering as temporary visitors.

“Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law,” Landau said in a post on X, while separately arguing that the US immigration system had been overwhelmed by what he described as frivolous asylum claims.

The administration’s position is consistent with a broader effort to tighten immigration controls under Trump’s second presidency.

The State Department said earlier in August that it had already revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals. The administration has also introduced wider screening and vetting measures for visa applicants. (AP News)

In March, the State Department expanded online presence reviews for applicants in several non-immigrant visa categories and said it uses available information to assess whether applicants are eligible to enter the United States. (Travel.state.gov)

The administration has also introduced nationality-based visa restrictions. Since January 2026, the US has fully or partially suspended visa issuance for nationals of several countries, including Nigeria, for certain visa categories. (Travel.state.gov)

For Nigerians, the latest development adds to an already more restrictive visa environment.

The State Department said in July that it was also realigning routine visa services in several African countries, including Nigeria, to regional visa hubs from August 1, 2026. (Adoption State)

The proposed revocation, however, is not limited to Nigerians. It would potentially affect foreign nationals of different backgrounds who entered the US on B1 or B2 visas and subsequently sought asylum.

The scale of the proposed action is what makes it particularly significant. If the reported figure of up to 200,000 is reached, AP described the measure as potentially the largest single mass visa revocation in US history. (AP News)

The policy is also likely to attract legal scrutiny. AP reported that the proposed action could face legal challenges, adding another potential test of the administration’s increasingly aggressive approach to immigration enforcement. (AP News)

Rights groups have already criticised the wider immigration crackdown, arguing that some of the administration’s measures threaten due process and civil liberties.

The Trump administration, however, maintains that its immigration policies are intended to strengthen national security, enforce existing immigration law and prevent abuse of legal entry routes.

The latest proposal therefore places thousands of people with pending asylum claims in an uncertain position.

While the loss of a visitor visa does not itself amount to an immediate removal order, it could change the immigration status under which affected individuals remain in the United States.

For now, the exact number of people affected remains unclear, and the State Department has indicated that the figure could change as officials review individual cases.

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The Trump visa revocation plan is expected to unfold gradually, making the coming weeks significant for B1 and B2 holders who entered the US as temporary visitors but later sought protection through the asylum system.