The Trump administration is gearing up to rescind business and tourist visas for as many as 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for asylum in the United States. This action could become the largest mass visa cancellation in the nation's history.
Those holding B1 and B2 visas, issued between 2016 and 2026, who later filed for asylum, are expected to be impacted, according to documents from the State Department obtained by the Associated Press (AP) and two anonymous officials.
An official announcement may be made in the coming weeks, with the measure being executed in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed to AP that both agencies are collaborating to identify the foreign nationals who will be affected. "We are working with DHS to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of those who arrived in the U.S. claiming to be short-term visitors but subsequently applied for asylum to stay permanently," he stated.
Pigott did not specify the number of individuals involved, noting that "the number of revocations remains fluid and will be ongoing."
According to officials interviewed by AP, losing a visa would not directly lead to deportation. However, those affected would no longer possess this travel document, and their immigration status would depend on the status of their asylum application.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau defended the initiative, stating on X that "people in the United States and around the world are fed up with fraudulent asylum claims." He added, "Asylum should not be a loophole to circumvent immigration law."
B1 visas are primarily used for temporary business trips, while B2 visas allow entry for tourism, family visits, or certain medical treatments. Applicants must show their stay is temporary and they maintain ties ensuring their return abroad.
This new move would deepen the policy of visa review and cancellation pushed during Trump's second term. In the past 18 months, the State Department revoked about 175,000 visas for various reasons, including criminal convictions.
The key change now is the criteria being used: entering as a visitor and then applying for asylum could become grounds to revoke the visa initially used to enter the country.
Additionally, this initiative could face a legal battle. On August 22, a federal judge in Manhattan declared another administration measure, which suspended the issuance of certain immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, "blatantly illegal."
For the Cuban community, the announcement is particularly significant due to the number of migrants with pending asylum processes in the U.S. and the tightening of immigration measures in recent months.
Moreover, arrests of Cuban migrants by ICE increased by 463% between October 2025 and April 2026, amid an immigration crackdown that has heightened uncertainty for thousands with pending cases.
Key Questions About U.S. Visa Revocation and Asylum Policies
What types of visas are being revoked?
The revocations target B1 and B2 visas, which are issued for temporary business and tourism purposes, respectively.
Will losing a visa automatically lead to deportation?
No, the loss of a visa does not automatically result in deportation. Affected individuals would need to rely on their asylum status during processing.
Why is this initiative significant for the Cuban community?
The Cuban community is significantly impacted due to the large number of migrants with pending asylum cases and the recent tightening of U.S. immigration policies.