The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke the tourist and business visas of potentially 200,000 foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, according to US officials and State Department documents.

The proposed action could become the largest mass visa revocation in US history. The State Department is expected to begin announcing the revocations in the coming weeks, targeting holders of B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026.

B1 and B2 visas are generally issued to people traveling to the United States for business, tourism, family visits or medical treatment.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the government was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify people who entered the country as short-term visitors but later filed asylum claims.

Officials stressed that losing a visa would not automatically result in immediate deportation. People with pending asylum applications could instead be placed under a different immigration status while their cases continue.

The move has drawn criticism from immigrant-rights groups, which argue that the administration's broader immigration crackdown could undermine due-process protections. Trump administration officials, however, say the measures are necessary to prevent abuse of the immigration system and strengthen national security.

The proposed visa revocations are part of a wider series of immigration restrictions introduced during Trump's second term, including expanded visa screening, new visa bond requirements and restrictions on visa issuance for citizens of certain countries.

The State Department has not yet provided a final number of visas that will be revoked, saying the figure remains subject to change as officials review individual cases.