The State Department is considering revoking the visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have sought asylum after entering the U.S. on tourist or business visas.
The administration of United States President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke business and tourist visas of foreign nationals who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, the State Department announced.
It is not yet known how many visas will be affected, but according to estimates by the Associated Press, which refers to State Department documents and two US officials, this number could be as high as 200,000. If implemented, this would be the largest visa revocation ever in US history.
What did the State Department say about the visa revocations?
The State Department is expected to announce the revocations in the coming weeks. They are for so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought or are currently seeking asylum. These visas are generally issued for business, tourism, family visits or medical treatment.
“We are working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors but have subsequently applied for asylum to remain here permanently,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott, referring to the Department of Homeland Security.
He declined to give an exact number, saying the number “remains dynamic and may change continuously.”
Not necessarily deportation
Officials said revoking visas would not necessarily lead to immediate deportation.
According to officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, most people with pending asylum claims would be reclassified and lose their status as business or tourist travelers.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau criticized the use of tourist and business visas as a route for filing asylum claims.
“People in the US and around the world are fed up with false asylum claims,” he wrote on the social media platform X, adding: “Asylum is not meant to be a backdoor to avoid immigration law.”
Applicants for B1 and B2 visas are currently required to declare that they will not seek asylum and to prove that they intend to return to their countries of origin. It remains unclear how many of the current visa holders have actually filed for asylum./DW/