The State Department is preparing to revoke tourist and business visas held by as many as 200,000 foreigners who subsequently applied for asylum after entering the United States, according to internal documents and government officials.
The action, expected to be announced within weeks, represents a significant enforcement effort targeting what administration officials describe as systematic abuse of the visitor visa system. The revocations would affect holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who later filed asylum claims.
B1 visas permit short-term business travel to the United States. B2 visas authorize tourism, family visits, and medical treatment. Neither category is designed for individuals intending permanent residence. All applicants for these visas must affirm they will not seek asylum upon arrival and must demonstrate their intention to return to their home countries.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed the department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify foreign nationals who enter on short-term visas and subsequently file for asylum to remain permanently. He declined to provide specific numbers, stating only that “the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis.”
The State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas since the beginning of last year, though the majority of those actions involved criminal arrests rather than asylum-related issues.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau articulated the administration’s position on the matter Monday, arguing that the asylum system has been overwhelmed for years by claims failing to meet legal standards. Landau emphasized that asylum law was written as narrow protection for individuals persecuted based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in particular social groups.
“Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration laws,” Landau wrote, adding that the backlog of claims requires years to adjudicate while applicants maintain legal work authorization throughout the process.
Those work permits have provided entry into various sectors of the American economy, notably commercial trucking. Until recently, asylum seekers holding federal employment authorization qualified for non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a rule in February eliminating this pathway.
Punjabi Sikh drivers from northern India constitute a substantial portion of this workforce. According to the North American Punjabi Trucking Association, approximately one-fifth of the United States Sikh population works in the trucking industry. Raman Dhillon, the association’s chief executive, noted that these drivers obtained their licenses through state motor vehicle offices and their work permits from the federal government.
Asylum applications from Indian nationals increased dramatically during the previous administration. The Department of Homeland Security recorded 41,030 applications from Indian citizens in fiscal year 2023, compared to 4,330 two years prior.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has publicly stated that asylum seekers defame the country and its society for personal advantage.
The visa revocations, when implemented, will be executed by the Department of Homeland Security. The action signals a broader effort to tighten enforcement of immigration laws and restore what officials characterize as the original intent of both visitor visa and asylum programs.
Related: Judge Rules Against $100,000 Fee for Highly Skilled Worker Visas
