U.S. Moves to Cancel Visas of Nearly 200,000 Asylum Seekers
The United States is preparing a major visa crackdown targeting nearly 200,000 foreign nationals who entered the country on tourist or business visas and later applied for asylum.
The U.S. State Department is reportedly preparing to cancel the B-1 and B-2 visas of foreign nationals who entered the country for tourism or business between 2016 and 2026 but later sought asylum. Officials argue that using short-term visas to pursue permanent residency through asylum violates visa conditions. Visa cancellation would not automatically mean immediate deportation, but it could significantly affect the legal status of those with pending asylum cases and make future immigration benefits more difficult to obtain. The move comes as the Trump administration tightens immigration enforcement, including stricter visa screening and other entry requirements. The State Department has already canceled around 175,000 visas over the past 18 months, and officials have warned that the number affected could rise as the new measures are implemented.