The measure from the State Department targets judges, prosecutors, officials, and businessmen, as well as some of their family members. Washington linked the sanctions to the regional initiative "Shield of the Americas"
The Trump administration announced on Monday the revocation or restriction of visas for 27 officials, judges, prosecutors, and businessmen from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, in a new application of its policy to sanction foreigners who, according to Washington, are linked to corruption, drug trafficking, or actions that affect democratically elected governments. The measure also extends in certain cases to direct family members.
The State Department based the restrictions on section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the denial of entry to the United States when it believes that certain activities of a person may have serious adverse consequences for U.S. foreign policy.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Bolivia has the highest number of affected individuals. The United States revoked the valid visas of 12 people and declared nine others ineligible for a visa. Among the names released are former Justice Minister Iván Lima Magne, several judges and prosecutors, and businessman José Luis Iriarte Cussi.
In Colombia, the measures affected Senator Martha Isabel Peralta Epieyú, a member of the Historical Pact and the Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement (MAIS), and businessman Euclides Antonio Torres Romero, along with his direct family members.
Peralta is linked to investigations related to the corruption case of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), while Torres has been mentioned in investigations regarding alleged irregular financing of activities related to Gustavo Petro's presidential campaign in 2022.
In Ecuador, Washington sanctioned two citizens and their families, although their identities were not publicly disclosed due to U.S. confidentiality regulations regarding consular records. In Peru, the measure affected Judge Juan Carlos Núñez Matos and his immediate family.
Donald Trump alongside the participating presidents of the Shield of the Americas
The Trump Administration presented the restrictions as part of the “Shield of the Americas”, an initiative through which the United States seeks to coordinate with countries in the hemisphere actions against drug trafficking, organized crime, and corruption. The State Department indicated that undermining a democratically elected government constitutes, from its perspective, a threat to security and the rule of law in the region.
The decision thus constitutes a new tool of pressure from Washington: in addition to financial and judicial sanctions, immigration restrictions are now being used against officials and private actors identified by the United States in investigations related to corruption and drug trafficking.
