Trump administration plans to revoke visas of 200,000 asylum seekers

The Trump administration announced on August 24 that it intends to revoke the visas of foreigners who have sought asylum in the United States. This was the latest move by the government to restrict immigration.

A US State Department spokesman noted that work is underway with the Department of Homeland Security. Their goal is to revoke the visas of foreigners who came to the United States as short-term visitors but later applied for asylum as permanent residents.

The State Department statement did not specify how many visas would be revoked. However, the Associated Press reported that up to 200,000 foreign business and tourist visas could be revoked. If this happens, it would be the largest mass visa revocation in US history. The agency reported this information, citing State Department documents and two US officials.

The report said that the State Department would revoke B1 and B2 visas issued from 2016 to 2026. These visas are issued for business and tourism purposes, and their holders have sought or are currently seeking asylum.

The cancellation of the visas does not mean that they will be immediately removed from the country. The status of those whose asylum applications are being processed will be reclassified. However, they will lose their status as business or tourist visitors.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a statement on the X network that the American immigration system has long been overwhelmed with unfounded asylum applications. The State Department also reported in early August that more than 175,000 visas of foreigners have been canceled during the Trump administration.

Trump is pursuing a strict policy of restricting immigration. This includes revoking visas and green cards and forcibly removing them from the country. He says these measures are aimed at improving the country's internal security.

Human rights activists criticize these measures. They say the restrictions violate freedom of speech and related rights. It also creates an unsafe environment. This is especially difficult for ethnic minorities who are concerned about racial discrimination.

Trump promised to stop illegal immigration during the 2024 election campaign. But his administration has also made legal immigration more difficult in practice. For example, new and expensive fees have been introduced for some work visas. These government decisions are being challenged in the courts. Earlier, it was reported that a US federal court had overturned a decision to stop issuing immigrant visas to citizens of Uzbekistan and 74 other countries.