The Trump administration has revoked visas for 27 officials from four Latin American nations, citing allegations of corruption and ties to drug trafficking, the State Department confirmed on Monday.
The action targets individuals from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, including Bolivia's attorney general, Roger Mariaca, who is accused of accepting bribes to shield drug traffickers and violent criminals from prosecution. Also included are former officials and family members of those blacklisted.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier this month signaled a tougher U.S. stance on illicit drug trade during visits to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, whose right-leaning leaders have aligned with President Trump's hardline drug policies. The visa revocations are part of what the administration calls its 'Shield of the Americas' initiative, which aims to foster regional cooperation against drug trafficking and organized crime.
'Under the Trump Administration, corrupt foreign officials can no longer freely enter the United States,' the State Department said in a statement, framing the move as a defense of democratic governance in the hemisphere.
Beyond Mariaca, the U.S. has revoked visas for 12 other Bolivians, including prosecutors, judges, a former justice minister, and a police official. An additional nine Bolivians who do not currently hold U.S. visas have been made ineligible for future ones, according to the department.
The list also includes two Colombians, two Ecuadorians, and a Peruvian judge, though the department did not disclose their names.
The visa restrictions stem from a new policy targeting foreign nationals accused of undermining democratically elected governments through corruption or facilitating drug trafficking. 'Undermining a democratically-elected government is a threat to security and rule of law in the Americas and will not be tolerated,' the department said, adding that the mechanism allows the U.S. to act swiftly as evidence emerges.
This move is the latest in a series of aggressive foreign-policy actions by the administration, which has also been pressing allies on trade and security issues. The visa revocations could strain relations with the affected countries, though leaders in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru have largely backed Washington's anti-drug efforts.
