US plans to revoke business, tourism visas of 200,000 asylum seekers

If the action happens, it will be the largest single mass revocation of visas in US history, AP reports.The United States is preparing to cancel business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are seeking Asylum in the country, according to the Associated Press news agency.The AP, citing State Department documents and interviews with two US officials, reported on Monday that if the plan goes ahead, it would be the “largest single mass revocation of visas” in the country’s history.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump administration has revoked over 175,000 visas: US State Departmentlist 2 of 3US judge strikes down Trump immigrant visa ban affecting 75 countrieslist 3 of 3Trump administration seeks to formalise H-1B fee of more than $100,000end of listIt said the State Department is expected to announce the action within the coming weeks, working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).It would target so-called B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, whose holders have sought Asylum or are now seeking Asylum.“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,” said State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.Officials cited by the AP said the revocations would not automatically trigger deportations.Instead, most people with pending Asylum cases would be shifted into a different Immigration category, effectively stripping their business or tourist designation while their cases proceed.In a social media post on Monday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called out people who he said try to use tourist and business visas to get into the US and then apply for Asylum.“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus Asylum claims,” Landau wrote on X. “Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent Immigration law.”