A photo collage of U.S. President Donald Trump and a U.S. visa, March 20, 2026. Photo White House, Canva
By Kenyans
The U.S. government is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the country, in a move that could target thousands of asylum seekers in the U.S., including Kenyans.
The planned action, which could become the largest single mass revocation of U.S. visas in American history, is expected to target holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, according to AP and Bloomberg.
B1 visas are issued mainly to foreigners travelling to the U.S. for business purposes, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and certain medical trips.
The State Department is expected to begin the revocations in the coming weeks as part of a joint effort with the Department of Homeland Security to identify foreigners who entered the U.S. on temporary visas before applying for asylum.
State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed officials were working on the process, saying some visitors used temporary visas before seeking to remain in the country permanently.
“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” Pigott said.
Even so, the State Department has not provided a specific number of people who will lose their visas, with Pigott saying the figure remains subject to change as authorities continue identifying affected individuals.
The number could reach 200,000, making the planned action potentially the biggest mass visa revocation in the country’s history, according to State Department documents and two U.S. officials cited by Associated Press.
However, losing a B1 or B2 visa would not necessarily result in immediate deportation for people with pending asylum cases.
Officials said some of those affected could have their immigration status recategorised while losing their visitor visa status.
The development comes as the Donald Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on immigration, with recent measures including increased scrutiny of visa applicants, social media checks, visa bonds, and restrictions targeting nationals of certain countries.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has defended the tougher approach, accusing some foreigners of exploiting temporary visitor visas to enter the U.S. before seeking asylum.
“People in the U.S. and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Landau said, adding that asylum should not be used as a way of circumventing U.S. immigration laws.
The latest move could therefore have implications for Kenyans who have travelled to or are currently in the US on B1 and B2 visas, particularly those who may have subsequently entered the American asylum system, although the U.S. has not indicated how many Kenyans would be affected.