US officials say the Trump administration is preparing to cancel the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are seeking asylum, in what would be the largest mass visa revocation in history.
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Key facts
- The Trump administration is preparing to revoke business and tourism visas, according to officials.
- Up to 200,000 foreigners could be affected.
- The measure targets people who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the US.
- Al Jazeera reports the policy could also deter others from filing asylum claims once in the US.
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 United States, according to NPR, citing officials.
The move would amount to the largest mass visa revocation in US history, according to reporting on the plans. It specifically targets individuals holding business and tourism visas who have since sought asylum protection in the country.
According to Al Jazeera, the policy could affect up to 200,000 people directly. The outlet also reported that the measure could deter many more foreigners from filing an asylum claim once they are in the US.
The reporting focuses on people who entered the United States on temporary business or tourism visas and subsequently applied for or are seeking asylum status. These are the individuals whose visas would be subject to revocation under the plan described by officials.
As described by the sources, the scale of the action distinguishes it from previous visa enforcement efforts, with the figure of up to 200,000 people cited across multiple outlets.
Further details on the timing and implementation of the plan were not specified in the available reporting.
Why it matters
A visa revocation on this scale would represent an unprecedented shift in US immigration enforcement, directly affecting tens of thousands of people who are already in the country. Reporting suggests it could also discourage future asylum seekers from filing claims, reshaping how people approach protection in the US.
Frequently asked questions
How many people could be affected by the visa revocation?
According to officials cited by NPR and reporting by Al Jazeera, the policy could affect up to 200,000 people.
Which visas are being targeted?
The plan targets business and tourism visas held by foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the United States, according to the sources.
Could the policy affect people beyond those whose visas are revoked?
Al Jazeera reports the policy could deter many more people from filing an asylum claim once they are in the US, beyond the up to 200,000 directly affected.
Timeline
- Trump plans largest mass visa cancellation in history: Who will it affect?
Al Jazeera: The policy could affect up to 200,000 people and deter many more from filing an asylum claim once in the US.
- Trump plans largest mass visa cancellation in history: Who will it affect?
Al Jazeera: The policy could affect up to 200,000 people and deter many more from filing an asylum claim once in the US.
- US set for largest mass visa revocation in history targeting up to 200,000 foreigners, officials say
NPR News: 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 United States.