US to revoke up to 200,000 visas of asylum seekers in largest mass action

American officials have signalled plans to revoke tourist and business visas for approximately 200,000 foreigners who later filed for asylum protection, according to government sources. The proposed action would constitute the most extensive visa cancellation programme undertaken by the US government to date.

The revocation strategy targets individuals who initially entered the United States on temporary visitor or commercial visas—categories typically issued for short-term tourism, business meetings, or similar purposes—before subsequently applying for asylum status. Officials view this approach as a method to enforce stricter immigration protocols and discourage what they characterise as misuse of the visa system.

The scale of the proposed measure underscores the Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration and asylum claims. The initiative reflects broader policy shifts aimed at tightening entry requirements and increasing enforcement actions against undocumented immigrants and those deemed to have violated visa conditions.

The revocation programme, if implemented, would affect a substantial portion of pending and active visa holders across South and Southeast Asia and other regions. Immigration advocates have raised concerns about the humanitarian implications of mass visa cancellations, particularly for asylum seekers fleeing persecution or violence. Legal challenges to the measure are anticipated from civil rights organisations.

The timeline for implementation remains unclear, with officials providing limited details on procedural mechanisms and individual case review processes that would accompany the revocations.