The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced plans to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said the department was working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the visas of foreigners who entered the country as short-term visitors but later applied for asylum to remain permanently.
The department did not disclose the number of visas that could be affected. However, the Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported that as many as 200,000 holders of B1 and B2 business and tourism visas could be impacted.
If implemented on that scale, the policy would represent the largest mass revocation of US visas in history. The State Department is reportedly targeting B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum.
The planned revocations would not automatically result in immediate deportation. According to AP, most people with pending asylum cases would be reclassified but would lose their status as business or tourism visitors.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau had earlier alleged that the country’s immigration system had been overwhelmed by what he described as “frivolous asylum claims.”
The State Department also said the Trump administration had already revoked more than 175,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals.
