President Donald Trump’s administration has disclosed plans to revoke the visas of nearly 200,000 foreigners who entered the United States on business (B-1) and tourism (B-2) visas but later sought asylum, a move that, if implemented, would mark the largest single visa revocation.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement on Monday that the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are working to review B-1 and B-2 visas from 2016 to 2026.
Although Mr Pigott did not state the exact number of visas to be revoked, saying it ‘remains dynamic’, the Associated Press reported that up to 200,000 visas would be revoked, citing officials.
“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States, claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently,” Mr Pigott said. “These types of visas are issued with the clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home.”
Mr Piggot added that the cancellation would be carried out in batches.
”Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, we are making clear that a visa is a privilege—not a right,” he said.
Officials, however, told the Associated Press that foreigners would not be deported immediately, but those with pending asylum applications would lose their status as business or tourism travellers.
“People in the U.S. and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated on Monday. “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law.”
The planned action is the latest in the Trump administration’s sweeping immigration crackdown, which has included visa bans on nationals of specific countries, a reduction in the refugee admissions cap, and requirements for visa applicants to provide their social media histories, among other measures.
Last Friday, a federal judge overturned his government’s efforts to suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
U.S. district judge Jeannette Vargas said the policy was “contrary to law and in excess of statutory authority”.