US plans to revoke visas of up to 200 000 asylum applicants

The Trump administration is set to revoke the business and tourist visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who entered the United States legally on temporary visas and later applied for asylum, according to credible reports. The administration claims that the visa system is being abused to allow people to remain in the country permanently.

These individuals entered the U.S. with B-1 business or B-2 tourist visas, which are intended for temporary stays. The State Department is preparing to revoke these visas on a rolling basis, potentially impacting a large number of people. However, it's important to note that visa revocation does not automatically result in immediate deportation.

Those with pending asylum cases may still remain in the United States while their cases proceed, but they would no longer hold their original visitor status. This policy is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration controls and reduce what they describe as abuse of the legal immigration system. While these individuals were not necessarily among those who crossed the U.S. border illegally, the administration argues that their actions after arrival could justify revoking their visas.

This move represents a significant expansion of the administration's immigration crackdown, adding the legal visa system to their targets, which have previously focused on the border and asylum procedures.