Trump did what his predecessors did not dare – and sparked a storm: "Like Putin"

The Trump administration is preparing to cancel the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have filed asylum applications in the United States or are currently in the process of obtaining asylum seeker status, reported the AP news agency today (Tuesday).

According to the report, the move is intended to revoke B1 and B2 visas from those foreigners who, according to the administration, entered the United States for a temporary visit but subsequently sought to remain in the country permanently through the asylum process.

If the move is implemented, it will be the largest mass visa revocation carried out in a single action in the history of the United States, and it is expected to face legal challenges. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott explained that the goal is to identify foreigners who entered the United States as short-term visitors and then sought to remain there permanently through an asylum application.

However, the visa revocation is not expected to necessarily lead to immediate deportation. According to the officials, most of those whose asylum applications are still pending will be reclassified, but will lose their status as visitors in the United States for business or tourism purposes.

The move fits into the tightening of the Trump administration's immigration policy since taking office for a second term. Among other things, requirements for visa applicants to provide information about their activity on social networks have been increased, higher financial guarantees have been imposed, and in some cases, the issuance of visas to citizens of certain countries has been prohibited.

On the other hand, the move is sparking opposition and a legal battle, mainly around the claim that it is punishing even those who acted within the law in a sweeping manner. Critics of Trump's immigration policy emphasize that the very act of filing an asylum application after entering the US on a tourist or business visa is not necessarily an offense or proof of fraud, and that each application should be examined on its own merits. Rights organizations warn that mass visa revocation could harm the right to due process.