US Prepares to Mass Cancel Visas for Up to 200,000 Asylum Seekers

The Donald Trump administration in the United States is preparing to mass cancel the visas of up to 200,000 foreign nationals who have entered the U.S. and applied for asylum or are preparing to do so, the Associated Press reported on the 24th local time.

According to the report, which cited a U.S. State Department document obtained by the 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 revocation in U.S. history and is likely to face legal challenges."

B1 visas are typically issued for business trips, 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 U.S. and 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).

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

Regarding the number of visas to be revoked, Pigott said, "Because the process is ongoing, the number of revocations is fluid and will be canceled on a rolling basis."

Christopher Landau, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account that day, "People in the U.S. and around the world are tired of fraudulent asylum claims," adding, "Asylum should not be a loophole to bypass immigration laws, but rather a limited safe haven intended for individuals persecuted on account of 'race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.'"

Landau also pointed out that "the system has long been overloaded with 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 an individual entered the U.S. on a B2 visa, applied for asylum, and was deported under the second Trump administration.
 

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.