The Donald Trump administration is preparing for what could become one of the most sweeping visa cancellations in United States history, with as many as 200,000 foreigners who entered the country on business or tourist visas facing possible revocation of their documents after seeking asylum.

The proposed action would affect holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have either applied for asylum or are currently pursuing asylum claims in the United States.

According to reports by the Associated Press, the policy could be formally announced within the coming weeks as the administration intensifies its efforts to tighten immigration controls and prevent temporary visas from being used as a pathway to permanent residence.

US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that officials are working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify individuals who could be affected by the planned cancellations.

“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,” Pigott said.

The proposed cancellation, however, would not necessarily mean immediate deportation for everyone affected.

Officials familiar with the plan said people whose asylum applications are still being processed could be transferred into another immigration category while their cases remain under consideration. In practical terms, this would strip them of their visitor status while allowing their asylum proceedings to continue.

The planned move has been defended by senior Trump administration officials, who argue that some foreigners have exploited temporary visitor visas to circumvent the country’s immigration system.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticised the practice in a post on X, saying public frustration over what he described as fraudulent asylum applications was growing.

“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau wrote.

He added that asylum protection “isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.”

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The proposed mass revocation forms part of a much wider immigration crackdown under Trump’s second administration, which has introduced tougher scrutiny of foreign visitors and visa applicants.

Over the past year, US authorities have increased the amount of information some visa applicants are required to provide, including greater scrutiny of applicants’ social media activities. The administration has also introduced substantial visa bond requirements for certain categories of applicants.

Visa restrictions have additionally been imposed on citizens of some countries as part of broader efforts to tighten border and immigration enforcement.

The latest proposal follows a separate wave of visa cancellations already carried out by the State Department.

According to the report, the department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the past 18 months, affecting individuals accused or convicted of offences including driving under the influence, rape and robbery.

Some visa holders who publicly criticised US government policies, particularly in relation to the conflict and politics surrounding the Middle East, have also reportedly had their visas revoked.

If the administration proceeds with the proposed cancellation of up to 200,000 B1 and B2 visas, the move would represent a dramatic expansion of the Trump administration’s campaign to tighten the US immigration system.

It would also send a strong warning to foreign nationals that entering the United States on a temporary visitor visa and subsequently seeking to remain in the country through an asylum claim could carry significant immigration consequences.

For thousands of affected individuals, the immediate question will be what happens to their immigration status once their visitor visas are revoked—and whether the new policy will ultimately reshape how asylum claims are pursued by people who initially entered the United States as tourists or business visitors.