The administration of President Donald Trump is preparing a fresh offensive against the US asylum system that could affect as many as 200,000 foreign nationals. Those targeted entered the country legally, using tourist or business visas, and later applied for asylum protection while already inside US territory.
Rather than directly barring these travelers from requesting asylum, the State Department appears set to use its existing authority to cancel the very visa that allowed them to enter the country in the first place. Immigration attorneys and advocates warn this approach could strip legal status from thousands of people who followed proper entry procedures before seeking humanitarian protection.
Officials have pointed to specific cases to justify the tougher stance. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau publicly criticized the asylum request filed by a man identified as Beto Coral, calling it an “abuse of our system.” That case has become emblematic of the administration’s broader argument that some travelers misuse tourist and business visas as a backdoor route to remain in the US long-term through asylum claims.
The move represents an escalation in Washington’s efforts to tighten immigration enforcement without changing underlying asylum law, instead relying on administrative tools like visa revocation. Critics argue the policy could punish people who entered through legitimate, government-approved channels.
Read the full report at El Tiempo for further details on the policy and its potential impact.