U.S. revokes visas of officials and businesspeople from four Latin American countries
The U.S. Department of State has revoked or restricted visas for nearly 30 public officials and businesspeople from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, citing alleged involvement in significant corruption and drug trafficking.
According to a statement from the U.S. government, the measure targets foreign nationals whose activities allegedly undermine democratically elected governments through corruption or drug trafficking. Washington said such activities constitute a threat to security and the rule of law in the Americas.
The measure is part of a broader set of actions used by the United States against individuals it considers involved in terrorism, criminal activity or other conduct of concern, including individual sanctions, designations by the Office of Foreign Assets Control and financial measures.
In Bolivia, visa restrictions were imposed on 12 officials and their families. Those named include Attorney General Roger Mariaca, prosecutors, judges, a former justice minister, a constitutional magistrate, a former head of the National Customs Service, a police colonel and a businessman linked to fuel sales. Another nine people who do not currently hold U.S. visas were declared ineligible to obtain them.
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In Colombia, the restrictions affect businessman Euclides Antonio Torres Romero and Senator Martha Isabel Peralta Epieyú. In Ecuador, two citizens were affected, although their names were not disclosed. In Peru, the measure applies to Constitutional Court judge Juan Carlos Núñez Matos.
The U.S. government did not announce criminal convictions as part of the visa action. The restrictions are an immigration and foreign-policy measure based on allegations cited by Washington.
