US to Revoke Visas of Nigerians, Other Foreigners Who Seek Asylum After Entering as Visitors
The United States government has announced plans to revoke the business and tourist visas of foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors and later applied for asylum.
The policy, announced by the Trump administration, is expected to affect holders of B1 and B2 visas who entered the US between 2016 and 2026 and subsequently sought or are currently seeking asylum. Nigerians could be among those affected.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said the department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify people who entered the country claiming to be temporary visitors but later filed asylum applications to remain in the US permanently.
The government has not released a final number of people who will lose their visas. However, documents reviewed by the Associated Press and information from two US officials indicate that up to 200,000 visas could eventually be revoked. If implemented at that scale, it would be the largest single mass visa revocation in US history.
The proposed action is part of President Donald Trump’s wider immigration crackdown, which has included increased scrutiny of visa applicants, tighter immigration enforcement and the cancellation of visas for people accused of violating visa conditions or other US laws.
Importantly, having a visa revoked does not automatically mean that a person with a pending asylum case will be immediately deported. Officials say many affected individuals would lose their B1 or B2 visitor status and could be reclassified while their asylum cases continue.
The policy is expected to be implemented on a rolling basis and could face legal challenges. The State Department has also previously announced that more than 175,000 visas had been revoked under the Trump administration for various reasons, including criminal activity, visa violations and other immigration-related concerns.
For Nigerians, the development comes amid already tighter US visa restrictions. Since January 2026, Nigeria has been subject to a partial suspension of visa issuance affecting several categories, including B1/B2 visitor visas, with specified exceptions.
The latest announcement does not mean that every Nigerian who legally entered the US on a visitor visa and later applied for asylum will automatically be deported. The exact impact will depend on the individual’s immigration status, asylum case and how the new policy is ultimately implemented.
