Trump Administration Plans Visa Revocation for Asylum Seekers

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to revoke business and tourist visas held by up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for asylum in the United States. The State Department is expected to announce this action in the coming weeks, according to a report by The Associated Press, which cites internal documents and two U.S. officials. The initiative would specifically target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to individuals who later sought asylum. If implemented, this would represent the largest mass visa revocation in U.S. history and may face legal challenges. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that they are coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the visas of individuals who entered the U.S. as short-term visitors but subsequently filed for asylum. The total number of affected individuals remains uncertain, as revocations would occur on a 'rolling basis.' Foreigners with pending asylum cases would generally be reclassified but would lose their status as business or tourist travelers. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau emphasized that asylum should not be used to bypass immigration laws, stating that the public is frustrated with what he termed 'bogus asylum claims.' The State Department has revoked approximately 175,000 visas over the past 18 months.