The U.S. government is evaluating a policy that would strip business and tourism visas from roughly 200,000 people who have applied for asylum. This potential move, which has not yet been officially finalized, targets individuals who currently hold valid non-immigrant visas while simultaneously pursuing asylum claims within the United States.

According to reports citing the Associated Press, this action would constitute the largest mass revocation of visas ever conducted by the U.S. government. The policy is intended to address the status of individuals who have entered the country on temporary travel or business permits but have subsequently transitioned into the asylum process. By revoking these visas, the government would effectively remove the legal status that allowed these individuals to enter the country for non-permanent purposes, potentially simplifying the administrative process for handling their asylum cases.

While the scope of the plan is significant, details regarding the timeline for implementation and the specific criteria for which visa holders will be prioritized remain limited. Critics and immigration advocates are expected to scrutinize the move for its impact on due process, while proponents of stricter immigration enforcement may view it as a necessary step to clarify the legal standing of asylum seekers who entered the country under different visa categories.