If not challenged legally, this will become the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history.

According to officials, the State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks the revocation of so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought or are now seeking asylum.

Applicants are generally issued B-1 and/or B-2 visas if they are visiting the United States for business (B-1) or tourism, family visits, and medical treatment (B-2).

The action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.

“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,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott to the Associated Press.

The revocations would not automatically trigger deportations, as State Department officials have noted.

Instead, most people with pending asylum cases would be moved into a different immigration category, effectively stripping them of their business or tourist designation while their cases proceed.

Under federal law, both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas can be revoked by the State Department at any time, including after someone has already traveled to the U.S.

President Donald Trump has made tightening visa rules a priority in his administration, scrutinizing applicants who seek asylum in the United States.

The Trump Administration argues that asylum applications are being used to get around the normal immigration system, while immigration lawyers say that a person’s situation can change after entering the U.S., implying that seeking asylum is unrelated to visa applications.

Nearly 175,000 visas of foreign nationals have been revoked by Trump’s Administration within the last 18 months. In a letter by the State Department on Aug. 10, 2026, it reads, “The majority of these visas were revoked due to law enforcement encounters for a range of criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug crimes being the leading causes.

According to Homeland Security figures, the top nationalities for successful asylum claims in recent years include those from Central and South America, such as Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

People considering travel to the United States may consider otherwise, as tightening restrictions on asylum claims may discourage foreign visitors.

Rut Bermejo Casado, a researcher in migration and asylum policies and lecturer at Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, spoke with Al Jazeera reporters regarding the mass revocation, saying, “Even if it does not lead to immediate removals, the measure signals a major shift toward treating post-entry asylum claims as evidence that temporary visas were used inconsistently with their intended purpose.”

Casado also claimed that revoking large numbers of visas may affect labor supply in certain industries, potentially reducing productivity and wages.

It remains to be seen whether the mass revocation of visas will come to pass, as the move is likely to face legal challenges before a final decision is made.