Beyond the 806
US set for largest mass visa revocation in history targeting up to 200,000 foreigners, officials say - AP News
The Trump administration is preparing to cancel the business and tourism visas of up to 200,000 foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum in the United States, which would be the largest single mass visa revocation in American history. The targets hold what are known as B1 and B2 visas.
The targets hold what are known as B1 and B2 visas. The State Department is expected to announce the revocations in the coming weeks, according to officials. Legal challenges are considered likely if the move goes forward as planned.
For Lubbock, this carries real weight. Texas Tech draws international students, researchers, and visiting faculty from around the world, and the region's agricultural sector has long relied on workers and business contacts who travel on exactly these kinds of visas. Anyone here on a B1 or B2 who also filed for asylum could find their legal status upended before a court has a chance to weigh in.
The administration's position is that holding both a visa and a pending asylum claim represents an inconsistency that justifies revocation. Critics argue that stripping visas before asylum cases are resolved punishes people who followed the legal process to seek protection.
The coming weeks offer no real precedent to draw from, making this a legal and political test unlike anything a previous administration has attempted.
Common questions
What visas are being revoked and who does it affect in Lubbock?
- The Trump administration is targeting B1 and B2 business and tourism visas held by people who have applied for asylum in the US. In Lubbock, that could include visiting researchers or faculty at Texas Tech and business contacts in the agricultural sector who travel on those visas.
How many people could lose their visas under this plan?
- Up to 200,000 foreigners could have their visas cancelled, making it the largest single mass visa revocation in American history. The State Department is expected to announce the revocations in the coming weeks, though legal challenges are considered likely if the plan moves forward.
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