The administration of US President Donald Trump is planning to cancel the business and tourist visas of around 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for asylum in the United States.

The move is part of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown. The US State Department said it would identify foreign nationals who entered the country on short-term visas and later applied for asylum, and cancel their visas.

The State Department is working jointly with the Department of Homeland Security on the initiative. Although no official figure has been released on how many visas could be cancelled, the Associated Press reported that around 200,000 people holding B-1 and B-2 visas could be affected.

Citing State Department records and US officials, the report said the process would cover business and tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026.

However, visa cancellation does not necessarily mean that the individuals concerned will be immediately deported from the United States. Many people with pending asylum applications could have their visa status changed to another category, meaning they would lose the temporary visa status that allows them to enter the US for business or tourism.

The Trump administration has intensified measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration, including visa and green card cancellations. The administration says such measures are necessary to protect national security and strengthen control over the immigration system.

Human rights organisations, however, have criticised the measures, warning that they could undermine immigrants’ legal rights and freedom of expression.