US to Revoke Visas of Nigerians, Other Foreigners Who Seek Asylum After Entering as Visitors
The United States government has announced plans to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the country after entering on visitor visas.
The move is part of the sweeping immigration crackdown being pursued by the administration of President Donald Trump, which has targeted both undocumented migrants and certain categories of legal immigrants.
A State Department spokesperson said the department was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who entered the US claiming to be short-term visitors but later filed asylum applications to remain in the country permanently.
The department, however, did not disclose the number of visas that could be affected by the planned policy.
According to the Associated Press, as many as 200,000 holders of business and tourism visas could be affected, citing State Department documents and two US officials.
If implemented on that scale, the measure could become the largest single mass revocation of US visas in history.
The AP reported that the State Department plans to revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought or are currently seeking asylum.
B1 and B2 visas are non-immigrant visas primarily issued to foreign nationals travelling to the US for business and tourism purposes.
The planned revocations would not automatically lead to immediate deportation. According to the AP report, most individuals with pending asylum cases would be re-categorised but would lose their status as business or tourism visitors.
Earlier on Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau alleged on X that the American immigration system had for years been overwhelmed by what he described as frivolous asylum claims.
The State Department had earlier disclosed that the Trump administration had revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals.
Trump has pursued an aggressive immigration crackdown since returning to office, including visa and green card revocations as well as an expanded deportation campaign.
The President has said the measures are aimed at strengthening US domestic security and enforcing the country’s immigration laws.
Rights groups, however, have criticised several aspects of the crackdown, arguing that some measures infringe on due process and free speech rights and have created an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities amid concerns over racial profiling.
Although Trump campaigned in 2024 on a pledge to curb illegal immigration, his administration has also introduced measures affecting legal immigration, including new and expensive fees for applicants for certain work visas.
The administration’s immigration policies have faced several legal challenges.