Trump administration plans mass cancellation of visas for asylum applicants
The Trump administration is preparing a plan to revoke the business and tourist visas of a large number of foreign nationals in the United States, Reuters has reported, in a move that could affect nearly 200,000 visa holders.
According to the report, the plan targets people who applied for asylum after entering the United States on business or tourist visas, or whose cases are still under review in that process. The visas in question were issued between 2016 and 2026.
Reuters cited U.S. State Department documents and comments from two U.S. officials, saying details of the measure are likely to be announced in the coming weeks. The agency said implementation of the decision still depends on the completion of reviews and the possibility of legal challenges.
U.S. officials have said revoking a visa does not necessarily mean these people will be immediately deported from the United States. According to them, some asylum seekers may have their status recorded and reviewed under a different part of the U.S. immigration system.
The policy is to be carried out in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The report added that over the past 18 months, the State Department has also revoked tens of thousands of visas for various reasons.
If implemented, the measure could become one of the largest mass visa revocations in U.S. history. In his second term, Trump has imposed stricter restrictions on visa issuance and use, as well as on the U.S. asylum system, and officials in his administration have said the aim is to prevent abuse of short-term visas and tighten control over immigration.
