US mass visa revocation plan moves forward: What it means for internationals in the Netherlands

The Trump administration is pushing ahead with what experts call the largest single mass visa cancellation in US history — revoking B-1 and B-2 business and tourist visas for up to 200,000 people who have applied for or are seeking asylum. For internationals living in the Netherlands, the move raises practical questions about travel to the United States and highlights a broader immigration crackdown that also targets tribal lands and voting rights.

What is happening?

On August 25, the US State Department announced it would revoke B-1 and B-2 non-immigrant visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for holders who have previously sought asylum or are now seeking asylum. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the measure targets "foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently." The Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, estimated up to 200,000 people could be affected (Source: Al Jazeera).

Immigration lawyer Dree Collopy warned on September 5 that the policy risks turning the legal immigration system into a "detention tool," making people who lawfully enter the US vulnerable to arrest and deportation when they later seek asylum (Source: Al Jazeera).

This is not the only front in the administration's immigration enforcement. In Arizona, the Tohono O'odham Nation accused federal agents of trespassing on tribal land to begin border wall construction — an escalation of a conflict dating back to Trump's first term (Source: Al Jazeera). Separately, the US revoked the visa of former Iraqi finance minister Taif Sami Mohammed al-Shakarchi after the FBI placed her on a terrorism watchlist, even though Washington had previously honored her for anti-corruption work (Source: Al Jazeera). And in Ohio, a federal judge blocked a state law requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, ruling it likely violates the National Voter Registration Act (Source: Al Jazeera).

What does this mean for internationals in the Netherlands?

If you hold a US B-1 or B-2 visa and have ever applied for asylum in the United States — even if you never entered the US on that visa — you could lose it. That affects travel plans, business trips, and family visits. The US government does not automatically notify visa holders of revocation; you may only discover the problem at the border.

For internationals living in the Netherlands on a Dutch residence permit (verblijfsvergunning), the US policy does not directly affect your Dutch status. But if you are a non-US citizen who has previously sought asylum in the US, your US visa may be at risk. The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) handles asylum applications in the Netherlands under separate rules — the EU's Common European Asylum System. There is no reciprocal visa-revocation policy for people who apply for asylum in the Netherlands, though the Dutch government has tightened its own rules in recent years.

If you plan to travel to the US, check your visa status well in advance. The US Embassy in The Hague can provide information, but the ultimate decision rests with the Department of State in Washington.

The bigger picture

The mass visa cancellation is part of a sweeping anti-immigration agenda that has also included military-style raids by ICE, efforts to limit birthright citizenship, and increased border enforcement. For expats and internationals who value predictable immigration rules, the US approach is a reminder of how quickly visa policies can change — and how important it is to stay informed.

As the Tohono O'odham Nation and Ohio voting-rights cases show, the crackdown is not limited to border enforcement. It touches tribal sovereignty and even the right to vote. For now, the federal judge's injunction in Ohio means proof-of-citizenship requirements are on hold, but the case may go to appeal.

What to watch

• Legal challenges to the mass visa revocation: Immigration advocates are likely to argue it violates due process and asylum rights.
• The Tohono O'odham Nation's next steps: The tribe has demanded trespassing charges against federal agents.
• Ohio's appeal: The state's Republican leadership has vowed to fight the court ruling.

For internationals in the Netherlands, the key takeaway is: if you have a US visa and any asylum history, consult an immigration lawyer before booking your next trip across the Atlantic.