The administration is preparing new visa revocations as cases involving immigrants with work permits, pending asylum claims or relatives in the military fuel uncertainty.

President Donald Trump plans to revoke B1 and B2 visas from foreign nationals who entered as temporary visitors and later applied for asylum, the State Department confirmed to EFE.

  • Why it matters: Having a visa, work permit or pending asylum application may grant specific immigration rights, but it does not necessarily mean having permanent legal status and does not, by itself, prevent detention.

Trump Immigration Crackdown Targets Visas of Those Who Applied for Asylum

The State Department is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify people who entered with temporary visas and later applied for asylum.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said that obtaining a visa with the intention of applying for asylum constitutes fraud and may justify revocation.

  • The distinction: That fraud allegation reflects the government’s position. The material provided does not establish that every affected applicant committed fraud individually.

B1 and B2 visas allow temporary travel for business or tourism.

An asylum application, by contrast, seeks protection in the United States for reasons recognized under immigration law.

A work permit also does not automatically amount to permanent residency or citizenship.

It may legally authorize employment while another immigration case remains pending.

Father of a U.S. Sailor Remains Detained

The uncertainty surrounding the Trump immigration crackdown was reflected in Florida with the arrest of Nicaraguan national Luis Manuel Aviles Roa, the father of a sailor deployed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

DHS told EFE that Border Patrol detained him in Key West and said he had entered the country illegally.

His son, Joshua Aviles, said his father had a driver’s license, Social Security number and work permit, and was awaiting a decision related to his residency.

  • DHS’s position: A relative’s military service does not automatically grant permission to remain in the country, legal status or immunity from immigration laws.

Aviles Roa will remain in ICE custody while he goes through immigration proceedings, according to DHS.

Venezuelans Report Fewer Protections and Greater Fear

Venezuelan organizations also submitted a report to Congress and Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the immigration situation as “more unstable” since 2025.

VEPPEX and AMAVEX attribute that uncertainty to changes such as the end of TPS for Venezuelans, reductions in humanitarian parole and changes involving employment authorization.

  • The complaint: The organizations say that losing work authorization can affect employment, health insurance and driver’s license renewals while other immigration cases remain pending.

The report cites cases of Venezuelans who were detained despite having work permits and, in some instances, pending asylum applications.

The organizations are asking authorities to review each case individually and are calling for greater transparency regarding detentions and deportations.

Visa Revocations Could Trigger Another Legal Battle

The new visa plan could face court challenges, while other immigration policies from the administration are already the subject of legal disputes.

  • What comes next: Implementation will determine who is affected and what criteria will be used to decide visa revocations.

The situation leaves one key distinction for immigrants with pending cases: having specific immigration documents can provide certain authorizations, but not all of them offer the same protection against detention or deportation proceedings.

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SOURCE: EFE / Twitter (x)