US announces new visa restriction policy for foreigners who ‘censor' America
The United States will impose new visa restrictions on foreign officials and individuals accused of censoring Americans abroad, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday. In a post on X, Rubio said the move is aimed at those who have 'fined, harassed, and even charged' Americans for exercising their free speech rights.
'Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country,' Rubio wrote. 'Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over.'
For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights.
Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans.…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 28, 2025
'It is unacceptable for foreign officials to issue or threaten arrest warrants on US citizens or US residents for social media posts on American platforms while physically present on US soil,' Rubio said as per The Guardian.
He said it was 'similarly unacceptable' for foreign officials to demand content moderation from American tech platforms.
The policy's implementation details remain unclear.
Earlier, on Tuesday, the Trump administration told US embassies around the world to stop scheduling new interviews for international student visas.
'Consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,' a message sent by State Department read.
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