U.S. authorities are preparing to revoke visas of travelers who entered the United States on tourist or business visas but then tried to apply for asylum to remain, affecting over 200,000 individuals, calling such actions "fraud."
On Tuesday, 25 Aug 2026 GMT+7, the U.S. Department of State revealed that the government plans to revoke visas of foreigners who entered the country for tourism or business but attempted to stay long-term by seeking asylum, as part of Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.
The government disclosed it is cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke visas of individuals who entered the U.S. claiming to be temporary visitors but subsequently applied for asylum to live permanently.
"Applying for a visa with the intent to seek asylum constitutes fraud, which is grounds for visa revocation," said Tommy Pickett, spokesperson for the Department of State, confirming reports about this new policy.
The White House indicated via a post on X that up to "200,000 visas" could be affected, calling this the "largest visa revocation in history."
The Department of State neither confirmed nor denied this figure, with Pickett stating, "The number of revocations is still fluid and will continue on an ongoing basis."
Earlier in August, the Department of State revealed that since Donald Trump resumed the presidency in January 2025, over 175,000 foreigners have had their visas revoked for various reasons, ranging from criminal offenses, including drunk driving, to praising the killing of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist.
Additionally, the government recently revoked visas of Mexican officials, including the son of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, prompting current Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to express dissatisfaction.
Trump, who partly won re-election on promises to combat illegal immigration, has deported many undocumented residents, sought to limit travel by foreigners who comply with regulations, and taken action against those overstaying their visas.
Moreover, Trump's task force plans to expand social media account screening for visa applicants. Pickett emphasized, "We are making it clear that visas are a privilege — not a right."
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