US Prepares to Revoke Visas for Up to 200,000 Asylum Seekers in Mass Action

▲ U.S. Department of State building

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to collectively cancel the visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have entered or are preparing to apply for asylum in the United States, the Associated Press reported on August 24 (local time).

According to the report, which cited a U.S. State Department document obtained by AP and two U.S. officials, the State Department is expected to announce the visa revocations in the coming weeks for foreign nationals who entered the U.S. on business (B1) and tourist (B2) visas issued between 2016 and 2026 if they have applied or are preparing to apply for asylum.

The news agency noted that this would be the largest single mass visa cancellation in U.S. history and is likely to face legal challenges.

B1 visas are typically issued for business travel, while B2 visas are issued for tourism, medical treatment, or family visits.

Currently, foreigners issued B1 or B2 visas must confirm that they will not apply for asylum after entering the United States and must prove their intention to return to their home countries.

This measure is scheduled to be implemented in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott told AP, "We are working with DHS to identify and revoke the nonimmigrant visas of foreign nationals who claimed to be short-term visitors to enter the U.S. but instead applied for asylum for permanent residence."

Regarding the number of visas to be canceled, Pigott said, "As the process is underway, the number of cancellations is fluid and will be revoked on an ongoing basis."

State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account that day, "People in the United States and around the world are tired of bogus asylum applications," adding, "Asylum should not be a loophole to bypass immigration law, but is intended to provide limited sanctuary to those persecuted for 'race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.'"

Deputy Secretary Landau also pointed out that "this system has long been overburdened by frivolous asylum applicants, and it takes years to determine whether applicants actually qualify for asylum, during which time they can work, have children, and put down roots in our country," before mentioning a case where someone entered the U.S. on a B2 visa, applied for asylum, and was deported under the second Trump administration.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

※