U.S. to Revoke 200,000 Visas Over Asylum Fraud Claims

The U.S. government announced plans to revoke the visas of foreigners who entered the country for tourism or business but later applied for asylum, labeling this as fraud. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that obtaining a visa to seek asylum constitutes grounds for visa revocation.

The White House indicated that this could impact "up to two hundred thousand visas," potentially marking the largest mass visa revocation in history, although the State Department did not confirm this figure. Since President Donald Trump resumed office in January 2025, approximately 175,000 visas have been revoked for various reasons, including criminal offenses.

The administration has also revoked visas for Mexican officials, prompting a complaint from President Claudia Sheinbaum. Trump’s administration aims to tighten immigration controls, including plans to expand social media vetting for visa applicants, emphasizing that a visa is a privilege, not a right.