The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States. If implemented, the move could become the largest single mass visa revocation in US history. The plan is expected to affect people who entered the country on B1 or B2 visas and later sought asylum. It is also likely to face legal challenges.

The State Department is expected to announce the move in the coming weeks. Under the planned action, B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 could be revoked if their holders have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum in the US. State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two US officials revealed the plan. The State Department will act 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.

Pigott did not confirm how many visas could eventually be revoked. He said the process would continue over time and the number could change as officials review more cases. "As the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.” The officials said the revocations would not automatically lead to immediate deportation. People with asylum applications that are still pending would generally be placed under a different immigration category. However, they would lose their status as business or tourism visitors. The officials spoke anonymously as the planned revocations have not yet been finalised.

Since Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term last year, his administration has introduced several tighter measures for visa applicants. These include demands for more information about applicants' social media activity and requirements for some applicants to post expensive visa bonds. The administration has also stopped issuing visas to citizens of certain countries under specific restrictions.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also criticised people who enter the United States on tourist or business visas and later apply for asylum. In a post on X on Monday, Landau said such applications should not be used as a way to bypass US immigration rules. “People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote on X. “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.” He referred to the case of a Colombian citizen who entered the US on a tourist visa in 2015 and later applied for asylum.

B1 visas are mainly issued to people travelling to the US for business purposes. B2 visas generally cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment. The documents and officials did not provide a clear figure for how many B1 and B2 visa holders have applied for asylum or could be affected by the planned action.

People currently applying for B1 and B2 visas must confirm that they do not plan to seek asylum in the United States. They must also show that they intend to return to their home countries after their visit. The administration's planned action appears to focus on people who entered the country under these temporary visa categories and later sought asylum.

The State Department has already carried out a large number of visa revocations during the past 18 months. Around 175,000 visas have been revoked during this period. The cases include people who were convicted or accused of crimes such as drunk driving, rape and robbery. The administration has also revoked visas belonging to some people who publicly criticised US policies, particularly policies related to the Middle East.

The administration has taken other steps to tighten immigration rules as well. It has moved against so-called birth tourism, where foreign pregnant women travel to the United States to give birth. Officials have argued that some use the practice to ensure their children receive the benefits associated with birthright citizenship. Trump has made several attempts to end birthright citizenship. Courts, including the Supreme Court, have rejected those challenges.

The State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press indicate that officials began screening current B1 and B2 visa holders after receiving information about asylum applications from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The review is expected to continue on a rolling basis. The final number of visas affected could change as the government identifies more cases and completes its assessment.