Trump Administration Set to Cancel Visas of 200,000 Asylum Seekers
The administration of US President Donald Trump is planning to revoke the non-immigrant, or temporary, visas of foreign nationals seeking asylum in the United States.
If implemented, the move could become the largest mass visa cancellation in US history. However, the decision is likely to face strong legal challenges.
The Associated Press (AP) reported the development, citing US State Department documents and two US officials. Unless there are legal obstacles or policy changes, an announcement could be made within the next few weeks. The plan would target holders of B-1 and B-2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the United States. The State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security on the matter.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said officials are working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreign nationals who entered the US as short-term visitors and later applied for asylum in an effort to remain in the country permanently.
He did not provide an exact figure for how many visas could be revoked. According to him, the number will remain subject to change as the process continues, with the policy being implemented in stages.
Officials said that visa cancellation would not automatically result in the immediate removal of the individuals from the United States. Because the decision has not yet been finalized, officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that many people with pending asylum applications could have their immigration status changed. However, they would lose the status of their business or tourist visas.
Since returning to power for a second term, the Trump administration has introduced various restrictions on visa applicants. These include requiring applicants to provide detailed social media information, imposing large visa bond requirements and suspending visa issuance for citizens of certain countries.
In a social media post on Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized people who enter the United States on tourist or business visas and then apply for asylum.
He said, “The right to asylum should not be used as a way to circumvent immigration laws.”
B-1 visas are generally issued for business purposes, while B-2 visas are commonly used for tourism, visiting relatives or receiving medical treatment. However, it remains unclear how many people holding these visas have applied or intend to apply for asylum, or exactly how many people would be affected by the proposed policy.
Applicants for B-1 or B-2 visas are currently being asked to provide assurances that they will not seek asylum in the United States. They must also provide evidence that they intend to return to their home country after their visit.
Over the past 18 months, the US State Department has revoked the visas of approximately 175,000 people. Those affected include individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes such as drunk driving, rape and robbery, as well as people who have publicly criticized US policy on the Middle East.
The Trump administration has also taken a tougher stance against so-called “birth tourism,” in which, according to the administration, pregnant foreign women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can obtain US citizenship by birth. Trump’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship have faced legal challenges in court.
According to State Department documents obtained by AP, the department has begun screening current B-1 and B-2 visa holders after receiving asylum-related information from US Citizenship and Immigration Services.