The United States has imposed new visa restrictions on foreign nationals involved in corruption. The US State Department issued a statement on the matter, as reported by infohub.kz.
The document emphasizes that under the Trump administration, corrupt foreign officials can no longer freely enter the United States. According to the statement, the State Department is taking action to fulfill commitments made at the Summit of the Americas in Doral to protect democratic governance throughout the hemisphere from corruption and drug trafficking, reaffirmed in the September 22 declaration by leaders of the "Shield of the Americas" countries.
In line with this statement, the State Department is announcing a new visa restriction policy. "This policy restricts the issuance of visas to foreign nationals and their family members who undermine a democratically elected government through corruption or drug trafficking in our region. Undermining a democratically elected government poses a threat to the security and rule of law in the countries of the Americas. This is a reliable mechanism that allows the United States to act quickly, in coordination with our partners, as evidence emerges. The State Department is immediately taking steps to impose visa restrictions under this policy in support of other participants in the "Shield of the Americas" program — Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru," the department said.
Under this policy, the Trump administration has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on 12 Bolivian citizens and their family members, two Colombian citizens and their family members, and one Peruvian citizen and his family.
Additionally, the State Department is publicly designating Bolivian Attorney General Roger Mariaca as involved in corruption. This action renders Mariaca and his immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States, the State Department said.