Additional Visa Restrictions on Bolivian Individuals to Defend Our Hemisphere Against Corruption and Narcotrafficking

Today, the Department of State is expanding its campaign against corruption and narcotrafficking in our region. These actions advance the commitments partners made at the Doral Summit in March and in the September 22 Shield of the Americas leaders' statement.

The Department is imposing visa restrictions on 40 individuals in Bolivia under the policy announced on September 28 pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. That policy targets foreign nationals who, through corruption or narcotrafficking activities, undermine democratically elected governments in our hemisphere - regardless of their political affiliation. The Trump Administration stands with the government of Bolivia as it works to remove criminal influence, including from its courts, police forces, and legislature.

Bolivia: Under this policy, the Trump Administration is imposing visa restrictions on the following 15 Bolivian nationals and their immediate family members:

• Rafael Dario LOPEZ MERCADO, National Deputy, Plurinational Legislative Assembly
• Rolando Santos PACHECO CHAVEZ, National Deputy, Plurinational Legislative Assembly
• Juan LANCHIPA PONCE, Former Attorney General
• Felix Gerardo BALDERAS ARTEAGA, Former Departmental Prosecutor of Beni
• Julio Cesar PORRAS VELARDE, Coordinating Prosecutor, Controlled Substances Unit, Santa Cruz
• Diego Alejandro BARBOZA ZEBALLOS, Former Director, Financial Investigations Unit
• Aldo Ismael QUEZADA CERRUTI, President of the Departmental Tribunal of Justice of Santa Cruz
• Fernando Ronald VELASCO SOLIZ, Former Chief of Airport Security of the Special Force to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN) at Viru Viru International Airport
• Freddy Bismarck PEREIRA MOLINA, Departmental Police Commander of Tarija and Former General Director of FELCN
• Oscar Mauricio ORTIZ CUELLAR, Santa Cruz Departmental Director, General Personal Identification Service (SEGIP)
• Katherine CALDERON VALLE, Former Director General of Migration
• Jose AYAVIRI SILES, Former Criminal Court Judge
• Armando ROJAS TOLEDO, Former Coordinating Prosecutor of La Paz
• Rony SUAREZ MILLIET, Private Citizen
• Julio Nelson ALBA FLORES, Judge, Departmental Tribunal of Justice of Santa Cruz

Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the INA allows the Secretary of State to refuse a visa to any foreign national if he has reasonable grounds to believe the alien's entry or proposed activities would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

Tags