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US considers revoking visas for thousands of asylum seekers
🇬🇷 Greece /Culture & Society

US considers revoking visas for thousands of asylum seekers

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The U.S. State Department is considering revoking visas for thousands of asylum seekers who entered the country on tourist or business visas.
  • The government views applying for asylum with a non-immigrant visa as fraudulent and grounds for revocation.
  • This move aligns with the Trump administration's focus on combating irregular immigration and could lead to a record number of visa revocations.

The U.S. State Department is reportedly planning to revoke visas for a significant number of immigrants who entered the United States on tourist or business visas and subsequently applied for asylum. This new initiative is a central part of the Trump administration's immigration policy, aiming to deter what it considers fraudulent use of the visa system.

The visa is a privilege and not a right.

— U.S. Secretary of State Marco RubioReflecting the U.S. government's tougher stance on immigration.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigot confirmed that the department is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify individuals who used non-immigrant visas with the initial intent to seek asylum. The U.S. government maintains that obtaining a visa with the primary purpose of applying for asylum constitutes fraud, which can serve as grounds for visa revocation.

While American media outlets suggest the number of revocations could reach up to 200,000, a record figure, the State Department has not confirmed this specific number. Officials clarified that revocations would be implemented gradually. Earlier in August, the State Department announced that approximately 175,000 visas had been revoked since Donald Trump's return to the presidency in January 2025. These past revocations covered various reasons, including criminal activities, legal violations, and driving under the influence, as well as cases involving individuals who allegedly celebrated the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

The State Department is cooperating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify cases where holders of non-immigrant entry visas subsequently applied for asylum.

— Tommy PigotState Department spokesperson confirming the initiative to identify visa holders who applied for asylum.

This policy shift reflects President Donald Trump's broader agenda to tackle irregular immigration. His administration has prioritized mass deportations of individuals residing illegally in the U.S., imposed restrictions on legal entry, and enacted stricter penalties for those overstaying their visas. The administration has also faced legal challenges, with a federal judge recently ruling against a freeze on visa processing for permanent residency, a measure affecting 75 countries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the administration's stricter stance, stating, "A visa is a privilege, not a right."

The U.S. government considers that obtaining a visa with the initial purpose of applying for asylum constitutes fraud and may be grounds for its revocation.

— Tommy PigotState Department spokesperson explaining the rationale behind potential visa revocations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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