The Trump administration is preparing a major new immigration crackdown that could result in the revocation of as many as 200,000 US visas, according to the White House.
The State Department said Tuesday that it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify foreign nationals who entered the United States on tourist or business visas but later applied for asylum. Officials argue that obtaining a temporary visitor visa while intending to remain permanently through the asylum system can amount to fraud.
“Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud — which is grounds for visa revocation,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
The White House said on X that the policy could affect up to 200,000 visas, describing it as potentially the largest mass visa revocation in US history. The State Department, however, has not confirmed that figure. Pigott said the number of affected visas remains fluid and that revocations will take place on an ongoing basis.
The announcement represents another major step in President Donald Trump's efforts to tighten immigration controls. Since Trump returned to office in January 2025, the State Department says approximately 175,000 visas have already been revoked for various reasons. Those cases have included criminal offenses such as driving under the influence, as well as other conduct the administration has deemed grounds for cancellation.
The administration has also taken action against foreign government officials. Recently, visas belonging to several Mexican officials, including the son of former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, were revoked. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum subsequently criticized the move.
Trump campaigned on a promise to significantly reduce both illegal and legal immigration. His administration has carried out large-scale deportations of people living in the country without authorized status while simultaneously increasing scrutiny of people seeking to enter the United States legally.
The government has also intensified enforcement against people who remain in the country after their visas expire and is preparing to expand reviews of visa applicants' social-media activity.
Several of the administration's immigration policies have faced legal challenges. In a recent ruling, a federal judge blocked a government policy that would have restricted visas for nationals of 75 countries seeking to settle in the United States. The affected countries included Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand and Yemen.
The latest visa policy is likely to receive further scrutiny, particularly over how the government determines whether an individual deliberately misrepresented their intentions when applying for a visa.
The administration maintains that visas are granted as a privilege rather than an entitlement. “We are making clear that a visa is a privilege — not a right,” Pigott said.
US Plans Largest-Ever Mass Visa Revocation, Targeting Up to 200k Asylum Seekers
