US Restricts Regional Visas
US Revokes Visas for Latin American Officials Over Corruption and Drug Trafficking
Anonymous
The Trump administration revoked or restricted visas for 27 officials, former officials and family members from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, citing alleged corruption and links to drug trafficking. The measures include Bolivia’s Attorney General Roger Mariaca, whom the State Department accuses of taking bribes to facilitate drug trafficking and help criminals evade justice. Colombian targets include a senator under investigation in a corruption case and a businessman linked in allegations to political campaign financing. The administration says the restrictions support democratic governance and efforts to combat corruption and narcotrafficking; leaders in the affected countries have said some targets were obstructing their crime-fighting efforts.
Key Points
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The State Department says Mariaca was elected in 2024 to a six-year term and alleges that he used his office to solicit and accept bribes, helping violent criminals evade justice.
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In addition to Mariaca, the U.S. sanctioned 12 Bolivian citizens and their family members; the named group includes prosecutors, judges, a former customs executive, a police colonel, a businessman and former Justice Minister Iván Lima. Nine other Bolivians without current visas were barred from applying for one.
3
The State Department said the new visa-restriction policy is being applied under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, citing commitments made at the Doral Summit and reaffirmed in the Shield of the Americas leaders’ declaration on Sept. 22.
4
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia, Ecuador and Peru earlier in the month and pledged U.S. support for those countries’ efforts to combat drug and human trafficking.
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