The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced plans to revoke the non-immigrant B1 and B2 visas of foreigners who entered the United States as short-term visitors but later applied for asylum.

The move, being carried out by the US Department of State in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, could affect as many as 200,000 people if implemented on a large scale. The visas reportedly targeted were issued between 2016 and 2026 and are held by individuals with current or pending asylum applications.

US officials described the action as the largest single mass visa revocation in the country’s history, arguing that some asylum applications are frivolous and contribute to pressure on the immigration system. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has particularly cited concerns over what he described as the growing strain caused by such claims.

The government, however, stressed that visa revocation would not automatically result in immediate deportation. Affected individuals could still have their asylum cases processed, although they would lose their B1/B2 business or tourist visa status.

The announcement comes amid wider immigration and visa restrictions affecting Nigeria and 18 other countries,Authorities have maintained that valid visas issued before the restrictions took effect would not be revoked solely because of the new country-based restrictions.

The State Department also disclosed that more than 175,000 visas had already been revoked during Trump’s second term, with many of those cases reportedly linked to criminal activity.