• The Trump administration plans to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourism visas.
• This is expected to be the largest single mass visa revocation in US history.
• The action targets B1 and B2 visas issued from 2016 to 2026 linked to asylum claims.
• Visa revocation does not necessarily lead to immediate deportation for the affected individuals.
• Legal challenges against this move are anticipated due to potential violations of rights.

The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States. If it proceeds, this action would represent the largest single mass visa revocation in U.S. history, potentially facing legal challenges, according to Indiatimes, Latimes, and SCMP.

The State Department is expected to announce this policy in the coming weeks, targeting B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for holders who have sought or are currently pursuing asylum. This move is part of a broader tightening of visa and immigration regulations under President Trump, as stated by Reuters and Al Jazeera.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott articulated that the revocations will target foreigners who entered the U.S. as short-term visitors but subsequently applied for asylum to remain permanently. He noted that the current process remains "dynamic" and ongoing, leading to a rolling basis of visa cancellations, according to NPR and Indiatimes.

The administrations' crackdown includes heightened scrutiny of visa applications, where prospective B1 and B2 applicants must now affirm their intention not to apply for asylum and provide proof of intent to return to their home countries. This policy aims to address public concerns over "bogus asylum claims", highlighted by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, as reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The revocations will not automatically lead to immediate deportation; those with pending asylum claims are expected to lose their temporary visa status but maintain their right to pursue asylum, according to SCMP and NPR.

This move has been criticized for potentially violating due process and creating a chilling effect on asylum claims, especially among individuals who may seek refuge in the U.S. after entering on valid visas, as discussed by experts and rights advocates in sources like Al Jazeera and Reuters.