Expanding Visa Restriction Policy to Protect U.S. Interests in the Western Hemisphere

President Trump's National Security Strategy makes clear: this Administration will deny adversarial powers the ability to own or control vital assets or threaten the security and prosperity of the United States in our region. The Department of State is working to advance American leadership in our hemisphere, protect our homeland, and ensure access to vital routes and areas throughout our region.

Today, in support of this critical objective, the Department of State is announcing a significant expansion of an existing visa restriction policy that targets those working on behalf of U.S. adversaries to undermine our national interests in our hemisphere including regional security and democratic sovereignty. This expanded policy enables us to restrict U.S. visas for nationals of countries in our region who, while within Western Hemisphere countries and while intentionally acting on behalf of adversarial countries, their agents, or enterprises, knowingly direct, authorize, fund, or provide significant support to, or carry out activities that are adversarial to and undermine America's interests in our hemisphere. These individuals - and their immediate family members - will be generally ineligible for entry into the United States.

Activities include but are not limited to: enabling adversarial powers to acquire or control key assets and strategic resources in our hemisphere; destabilizing regional security efforts; undermining American economic interests; and conducting influence operations designed to undermine the sovereignty and stability of nations in our region.

To demonstrate our commitment to this expanded policy, we have taken steps to impose visa restrictions on 26 individuals across our hemisphere who have engaged in these activities. The Trump Administration will use every available tool to protect our national security interests, defend American interests, and promote our region's safety and prosperity.

These actions are being taken pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

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