(CNN) — The Trump administration is moving to revoke visas from potentially hundreds of thousands of foreigners who have applied for or are seeking asylum in the United States.
The planned action would go after people who came to the US on temporary visas for reasons like tourism or business and then sought asylum to remain in the country long term. It comes as the Trump administration has aggressively sought to both prevent immigrants from coming to the US and to remove those who are already in the country.
A source familiar with the matter did not dispute that the action could impact 200,000 foreigners, as was first reported by the Associated Press, but said the revocations would not be done “in one fell swoop.”
“As the process will be ongoing, the number of revocations remains dynamic and will be done on a rolling basis,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
He said the State Department is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security “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.”
“These types of visas are issued with the clear understanding that they are for those who intend to return home,” Pigott said. “Obtaining a visa in order to seek asylum is fraud — which is grounds for visa revocation.”
To seek asylum, a person must be physically present in the US and be fleeing political, racial or religious persecution in their home country.
CNN reported in April that applicants for visas to the United States would have to affirm that they do not fear persecution in their home countries as the Trump administration sought to further restrict potential asylum seekers from entering the country.
The directive from the State Department instructed consular officers to ask nonimmigrant visa applicants two questions: “Have you experienced harm or mistreatment in your country of nationality or last habitual residence?” and “Do you fear harm or mistreatment in returning to your country of nationality or permanent residence?”
“Visa applicants must respond verbally with a ‘no’ to both questions for the consular officer to continue with visa issuance,” instructed the cable, which was sent to all embassies and consulates.
The State Department announced earlier this month that it had revoked more than 175,000 visas since President Donald Trump began his second term, marking a significant jump from December.
The-CNN-Wire
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