US Targets 200,000 Visas for Revocation Amid Asylum Fraud Allegations

The United States government has announced its intention to cancel the visas of foreign nationals who entered the country on visitor or business permits but subsequently applied for asylum to extend their stay. This move, confirmed by the State Department on Tuesday, represents another step in the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to curb immigration into the U.S.

The administration is currently collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and invalidate the visas of individuals who, according to officials, presented themselves as temporary visitors but later sought permanent residency through asylum claims. State Department spokesman, Tommy Pigott, affirmed earlier press reports regarding this new policy, stating, "Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud — which is grounds for visa revocation."

In a post on X, the White House indicated that "up to two hundred thousand visas" could be impacted by this action, describing it as potentially the "largest mass visa revocation in history." However, the State Department did not confirm or deny this specific figure. Pigott clarified that "The number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis."

Earlier this month, the department revealed that since President Donald Trump's return to power in January 2025, approximately 175,000 foreign nationals have had their U.S. visas revoked. These revocations were based on various grounds, including criminal offenses like driving under the influence, and even for expressing support for the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. The administration also recently annulled the visas of several Mexican officials, including the son of former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a decision that drew a complaint from the current Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum.

President Trump, whose re-election campaign heavily featured promises to combat illegal immigration, has overseen the expulsion of a significant number of individuals residing in the country without proper documentation. Beyond this, he has also worked to tighten restrictions on the entry of foreigners who follow legal procedures and has pursued those who overstay their visas. While some of these measures have faced legal challenges and been limited by court rulings, the administration persists. Just last Friday, a federal judge overturned a government prohibition on visas for citizens from 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Thailand, and Yemen, who wished to settle in the U.S. indefinitely.

Furthermore, the Trump administration plans to expand its scrutiny of visa applicants' social media accounts. Pigott reiterated on Tuesday, "We are making clear that a visa is a privilege — not a right."