Photo credit: LA Times
The Trump administration is preparing to revoke the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the US.
Asia One reports that if it happens, the move would be the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history and would likely face legal consequences.
Unless challenged or revisited, the State Department is expected to announce in the coming weeks the revocation of so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 whose holders have sought asylum or are now seeking asylum, according to State Department documents obtained by The Associated Press and two US officials.
The action will be taken in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
The revocations would not necessarily result in their immediate deportation, the officials said.
Most of those with asylum cases currently pending would be recategorized but would lose their status as business or tourism travellers, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the revocations are not final yet.
Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term last year, his administration has already ramped up restrictions on visa applicants – demanding more information about social media histories, requiring the posting of expensive bonds for the processing of visas, and outright banning the issuance of visas to citizens of certain countries.
