The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke as many as 200,000 business and tourism visas issued to foreigners who have applied for asylum in the United States.
The move is expected to affect B1 and B2 visa holders who entered the country as temporary visitors but later sought asylum.
According to documents cited by The Associated Press and confirmed by two US officials, the State Department will begin revoking visas issued between 2016 and 2026 to people who have sought or are currently seeking asylum.
The exercise will be carried out in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the action was designed to address cases involving visitors who later sought to remain permanently in the US through asylum applications.
“We are coordinating with DHS to identify and revoke the non-immigrant 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,” Pigott said.
He added that the number of affected visas remained subject to change as the revocation process would be conducted on a rolling basis.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also criticised what he described as abuse of the asylum system.
“People in the US and all over the world are fed up with bogus asylum claims. Asylum isn’t supposed to be a loophole to circumvent immigration law,” he wrote.
Officials said the visa cancellations would not automatically result in deportation.
Most affected individuals with pending asylum applications would retain whatever immigration status they qualify for but would lose their B1 or B2 visitor status.
B1 visas are issued primarily for business travel, while B2 visas cover tourism, family visits and medical treatment.
It was not immediately clear how many Nigerians could be affected.
Applicants for B1/B2 visas are now required to affirm that they will not seek asylum in the US and must demonstrate their intention to return to their home countries.
Trump’s administration has introduced several measures tightening US immigration and visa policies, including requests for social media histories, visa bonds and restrictions on citizens of certain countries.
The State Department said it had revoked about 175,000 visas over the previous 18 months for offences ranging from drunken driving to rape and robbery, as well as in some cases involving criticism of US policies.
The administration has also targeted birth tourism, in which foreign women travel to the US to give birth so their children can obtain citizenship.
Trump’s efforts to end birthright citizenship have so far faced challenges in US courts, including the Supreme Court.
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