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Visa revocation plan
The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the non-immigrant business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States, with the Associated Press citing State Department documents and two U.S. officials.
“marking its latest step in a sweeping immigration crackdown”
The revocation would target so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum, and it would be carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the effort is meant to identify and revoke visas of foreigners who came to the United States as short-term visitors and then filed for asylum to stay permanently.
Reuters reported that the State Department statement did not specify the number of visas that will be revoked, even as the AP put the figure at up to 200,000, and Reuters said the revocations would not necessarily result in immediate deportation.
Officials defend the move
Pigott framed the policy as coordination with DHS to revoke nonimmigrant visas, telling The Hill, "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."
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X that, "People in the U.S. and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims," and he added that asylum is not supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.
The Hill reported that Pigott declined to comment on the number of visa revocations and said the "number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis."
ABC News said the revocations would likely face legal challenges, while also reporting that pending asylum cases would be recategorized but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers.
What changes for asylum seekers
Officials said the revocations would not necessarily result in immediate deportation, and the Associated Press reporting cited by Reuters said most pending asylum cases would be recategorized but would lose their status as business or tourism travelers.
“The revocations would not necessarily result in immediate deportation”
The Hill reported that the State Department is expected to announce the revocation of B1 and B2 visas issued since 2016 on a rolling basis, and it said the process would be done as the number of revocations remained dynamic.
The Independent quoted Pigott saying, "These types of visas are issued with the clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home," and it added that obtaining a visa to seek asylum is fraud, "which is grounds for visa revocation."
ABC News reported that current B1 and B2 visa applicants are asked to affirm they will not apply for asylum in the United States and prove they intend to return to their home countries, even as the administration’s documents suggested screening of current B1 and B2 visa holders began after the State Department received information about asylum requests from the Citizen and Immigration Service.