The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of as many as 200,000 foreigners who have sought or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, according to a new report by the Associated Press. If carried out, the move could become the largest single mass visa revocation in US history and is expected to face legal challenges. The State Department could announce the measure in the coming weeks. Unless the plan is challenged or revised, it would target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have applied for asylum or are currently seeking asylum. The department is coordinating the action with the Department of Homeland Security. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed that officials are working to identify visa holders who entered the US as short-term visitors before filing asylum claims. However, Pigott declined to confirm the number of visas that could ultimately be revoked, saying the process would be ongoing and the number would remain dynamic. B1 visas are generally issued for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical care. Under the proposed action, people with pending asylum cases would not necessarily face immediate deportation. Officials said many would instead be recategorized while losing their status as business or tourism travelers. Current B1 and B2 applicants are required to affirm that they will not apply for asylum in the United States and demonstrate that they intend to return to their home countries. The administration has increasingly tightened visa rules since President Donald Trump began his second term. The measures have included additional scrutiny of applicants' social media histories, expensive visa bonds and restrictions on visa issuance to citizens of certain countries. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has accused some visitors of using tourist and business visas to enter the U.S. before applying for asylum. “Asylum isn't supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law,” Landau wrote on X. The administration's latest move follows a broader expansion of visa revocations. The State Department has revoked about 175,000 visas over the past 18 months, involving people convicted or accused of crimes ranging from drunken driving to rape and robbery, as well as people who publicly spoke out against US policies, particularly regarding the Middle East. The Trump administration has also targeted so-called birth tourism and attempted to end birthright citizenship, although those efforts have faced court challenges and rejections. State Department documents indicate that screening of current B1 and B2 holders began after officials received information about asylum requests from US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Naman is a copy editor at Times Now, with over three years experience in covering US News, politics, global affairs, sports, and other domains. Apart ... View More