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 State Department spokesperson said the department is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke the visas of foreigners who entered the US as short-term visitors but later filed for asylum to remain permanently.
The department did not disclose how many visas would be affected. However, the Associated Press, citing State Department documents and two US officials, reported that up to 200,000 B1 and B2 business and tourism visa holders could be impacted.
If implemented at that scale, the policy would amount to the largest mass revocation of US visas in history. The State Department reportedly plans to target B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to holders who have sought or are currently seeking asylum.
The planned revocations would not automatically lead to immediate deportation. According to AP, most people with pending asylum cases would be re-categorised 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 has 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.
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