Trump admin could strip 200,000 US visas in massive immigration shake-up: Report

WASHINGTON,DC: A potentially sweeping immigration action is taking shape inside the Trump administration, with officials considering the cancellation of business and tourist visas held by foreigners who later sought asylum in the United States.

The number under review could reach 200,000, according to an Associated Press report published Monday, August 24. The report is based on conversations with US officials.

Trump administration considers mass visa revocations

The proposal would focus on people who entered the country using B1 or B2 visas and subsequently filed asylum applications.

The visas covered by the review were issued from 2016 through 2026.

A B1 visa is generally used for business travel, while a B2 visa is typically issued for tourism, visiting family or receiving medical treatment.

The State Department says it is working with the Department of Homeland Security to identify cases in which people who entered as temporary visitors later sought to remain in the country through the asylum system.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirmed to AP that such a review is underway but did not endorse the reported figure of 200,000.

“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,” Pigott reportedly said.

He said the cancellations would take place on a “rolling basis” and that the eventual number was still changing.

If the reported scope materializes, the effort could become one of the largest visa-revocation operations ever undertaken by the US government.

What happens after a B1 or B2 visa revocation?

Losing a B1 or B2 visa would not, by itself, mean that someone is immediately removed from the United States.

Officials cited by the AP said people whose asylum applications are still pending would generally be allowed to continue with those cases.

However, they would no longer have the visitor status that came with their original visa, creating a separate issue over their immigration standing.

That distinction could become significant if the administration moves forward with the proposed review and begins notifying affected visa holders.

The reported action would target the status granted through the original B1 or B2 visa, while an asylum application is handled through a different legal process.

In other words, losing the visitor visa and losing the ability to pursue an asylum claim are not necessarily the same thing.

Still, the administration appears to be taking a tougher view of people who entered the country temporarily and later sought asylum.

Officials have indicated that some such applications may be viewed as an attempt to bypass the limits placed on temporary visitor visas, adding another layer to the immigration crackdown.