US Plans Visa Revocation for Nigerians, Other Foreigners Who Seek Asylum After Entering as Visitors

The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced plans to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreign nationals who entered the United States as short-term visitors but later applied for asylum.
The planned policy is part of the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which has targeted both undocumented migrants and some categories of legal immigrants.
A State Department spokesperson said on Monday that the department was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who entered the US claiming to be short-term visitors but subsequently filed asylum applications to remain in the country permanently.
The department did not disclose the exact number of visas that could be revoked under the proposed policy.
However, the Associated Press reported that as many as 200,000 holders of business and tourism visas could potentially be affected, citing State Department documents and two US officials.
If implemented on that scale, the move could become the largest single mass revocation of US visas in history.
According to the AP, the State Department plans to target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who have sought or are currently seeking asylum in the United States.
B1 visas are primarily issued for business travel, while B2 visas are generally used for tourism and other temporary visits.
The proposed revocations would not automatically mean immediate deportation for everyone affected. People with pending asylum cases could remain subject to the asylum process but would lose their classification as business or tourism visitors.
Earlier on Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticised the asylum system, alleging that it had long been overwhelmed by what he described as frivolous asylum claims.
The State Department also said earlier this month that the Trump administration had revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals.
Since returning to office, Trump has pursued an aggressive immigration agenda that includes visa and green card revocations, increased immigration enforcement and an expanded deportation campaign.
The administration says the measures are necessary to strengthen US national security, enforce immigration laws and prevent abuse of the immigration system.
Rights groups, however, have criticised several aspects of the crackdown, arguing that some measures could undermine due process and free speech protections. They have also raised concerns about racial profiling and the treatment of ethnic minorities.
Although Trump campaigned in 2024 on a pledge to reduce illegal immigration, his administration has also introduced measures affecting legal immigration, including new and costly fees for applicants for certain work visas.
The proposed visa revocation policy is therefore expected to receive close attention from immigrants, asylum seekers, lawyers and rights organisations, particularly those representing foreign nationals who entered the US legally before seeking protection.