The Donald Trump administration has moved to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who entered the United States as temporary visitors but later applied for asylum, escalating its efforts to tighten immigration controls.
The State Department confirmed the planned crackdown on Wednesday, saying it was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify visa holders who allegedly misrepresented their intentions when entering the country.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said applying for asylum after obtaining a visa for the purpose of remaining permanently in the US could constitute visa fraud and serve as grounds for revocation.
The White House said in a post on X that “up to 200,000 visas” could be affected, describing the move as the largest mass visa revocation in US history. The State Department, however, did not confirm the figure.
Pigott said the number of affected visas was still changing and that revocations would be carried out on a rolling basis.
The latest measure comes as the administration pursues a broader immigration crackdown. Earlier this month, the State Department said about 175,000 US visas had been revoked since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Those revocations involved cases ranging from criminal offences, including driving under the influence, to alleged support for violence against right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
The administration has also recently revoked the visas of several Mexican officials, including a son of former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, prompting criticism from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Separately, the State Department has paused immigrant visa processing worldwide as officials review procedures and provide additional training to consular officers.
A State Department official said the pause, which began in early August, was intended to ensure officers could assess visa applicants “comprehensively and consistently.”
The administration has said the review is partly aimed at identifying applicants who may become dependent on US public assistance.
Trump returned to the White House after campaigning heavily on reducing illegal immigration. His administration has since expanded immigration enforcement and removals involving people who lack lawful status in the United States.
