Trump Administration Plans Massive Visa Revocation for Asylum Seekers
The U.S. government is considering a significant policy change that could impact up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum. This potential revocation of business and tourism visas could become the largest of its kind in U.S. history, sparking potential legal challenges.
According to documents obtained by The Associated Press and information from two U.S. officials, the State Department is poised to revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026. These visas belong to individuals who have sought asylum or are in the process of doing so. The initiative is being coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security.
“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” stated State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.
While Pigott refrained from specifying the exact number of visas to be revoked, he mentioned that the process is dynamic and revocations will occur on a rolling basis. The revocation of visas will not immediately lead to deportation. Instead, asylum seekers with pending cases will be reclassified, losing their business or tourism status.
Since President Donald Trump began his second term, his administration has intensified visa restrictions. These measures include requiring more detailed social media histories, imposing hefty bonds for visa processing, and banning visas for citizens from certain countries.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized the abuse of tourist and business visas on social media, stating, “People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims. Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.” He referenced a case involving a Colombian citizen who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2015 and later applied for asylum.
B1 visas are typically for business visits, while B2 visas are for tourism, family visits, or medical care. The exact number of visa holders affected by the potential revocation remains unclear. Current visa applicants must affirm their intent not to seek asylum and prove their intention to return to their home countries.
Over the past 18 months, the State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas. These revocations involved individuals convicted or accused of various crimes and those publicly opposing U.S. policies, especially in the Middle East.
The administration has also targeted “birth tourism,” where foreign pregnant women travel to the U.S. to give birth, hoping to secure birthright citizenship for their children. Although Trump has sought to end birthright citizenship, courts, including the Supreme Court, have rejected these attempts.
Documents suggest that the screening of current B1 and B2 visa holders began after the State Department received asylum request data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
