Trump administration to revoke up to 200,000 visas of asylum seekers

The Trump administration is set to revoke up to 200,000 visas belonging to individuals who have sought asylum in the United States, according to an initial report by the Associated Press on Monday. This move, if carried out, would represent the largest mass revocation of visas in U.S. history and could potentially lead to legal challenges.

A spokesperson for the State Department revealed that they are working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of those who initially entered the country as short-term visitors but have since applied for asylum with the intention of remaining permanently. However, the exact number of visas that might be affected remains unclear, as the revocation process is ongoing and dynamic.

Representatives from the State Department and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have not yet provided additional comment to Axios. Immigration enforcement has been a significant focus of President Trump's second term, with his administration implementing stringent measures against undocumented immigrants and revoking visas for a wide range of reasons, including political activism and comments perceived as defamatory.

The administration recently initiated continuous vetting of over 55 million U.S. visa holders, aiming to identify potential violations that could result in revocation or deportation.