In what is shaping up to be the largest mass visa revocation in the country’s history, the U.S. administration is preparing to cancel the business and tourist visas of up to 200,000 foreigners. The measure specifically targets those individuals who entered the country with short-term visitor status but later applied for asylum.
Details of the New Government Measure
According to documents from the Department of State and confirmations from U.S. officials, the decision would affect holders of B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas issued between 2016 and 2026. The official announcement is expected in the coming weeks, in an action coordinated directly with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the Department of State, confirmed the strategy: “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 who then apply for asylum to stay here permanently.”.
Although Pigott declined to provide an exact and definitive number, he noted that it will be an ongoing process and that “the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be carried out continuously.”.
Does This Mean Immediate Deportation?
One of the main concerns surrounding this drastic measure is the immediate future of asylum seekers. According to U.S. officials, the cancellation of a tourist or business visa will not necessarily result in immediate deportation.
Most of those affected who currently have pending asylum cases will be recategorized within the immigration system. They will be able to continue with their process but will irrevocably lose their legal status as business or tourist travelers.
The End of “Legal Loopholes”
The current administration’s stance is clear: they aim to curb what they consider an abuse of the visa system. Christopher Landau, Under Secretary of State, addressed the issue on social media, stating that asylum “is not supposed to be a legal loophole to evade immigration law,” and added that there is frustration over “false asylum claims” from those who use these visas to enter the country with other intentions.
It is worth noting that current applicants for B1 and B2 visas are required to affirm that they will not seek asylum and must demonstrate their intention to return to their home country after their temporary stay.
A Context of Tougher Immigration Policies
This mass revocation is not an isolated event. Over the past year, the administration has intensified controls and restrictions on visa applicants. Some of these measures include:
- Thorough review of applicants’ social media history.
- Requirement of costly bonds to process certain visas.
- Total ban on issuing visas to citizens of certain countries.
- Operations against “birth tourism,” the practice of traveling to the U.S. solely to give birth so the baby obtains citizenship.
In addition to these new measures, over the last 18 months, the Department of State had already revoked approximately 175,000 visas from individuals accused or convicted of crimes (ranging from drunk driving to theft) or those who publicly criticized U.S. policies.
What Comes Next?
Legal experts anticipate that once the measure is officially announced, it will almost immediately face multiple challenges and lawsuits in the courts from immigrant advocacy groups. However, until a judge rules otherwise, the Department of State and DHS will proceed with this scrutiny, which will change the immigration landscape for hundreds of thousands of people.
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