US announces mass visa revocation targeting up to 200,000 B1 and B2 holders seeking asylum
The programme will focus on visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for individuals who have sought or are seeking asylum. Officials describe it as the largest such action in history.
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The United States is preparing the largest mass revocation of nonimmigrant visas in its history, targeting up to 200,000 holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have sought or are currently seeking asylum, according to officials quoted on 25 August 2026.
The action forms part of a broader tightening of immigration rules under the Trump administration. B1 and B2 visas cover business and tourist travel. Individuals who later file asylum claims while in the United States or after departure face review under the new programme.
State Department and Homeland Security officials have not released the precise criteria or the schedule for notifications. The scale alone distinguishes the effort from previous targeted revocations.
Advocacy groups have already signalled legal challenges, arguing that mass action without individualised assessment violates due process. Administration officials counter that the visas were issued for temporary stays and that subsequent asylum filings indicate intent inconsistent with the original purpose.
The practical effect for those affected will be loss of legal status if they are inside the United States, or denial of re-entry if they are abroad. How many of the 200,000 will ultimately have their visas cancelled remains to be determined by the review process.
The announcement adds another layer to the administration's immigration agenda, which has already included expanded interior enforcement and restrictions on certain categories of legal entry.
