Latest news with #USCitizens
Times of Oman
6 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
US imposes visa restrictions on foreign officials over free speech
Washington: The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting foreign officials accused of censoring American citizens, marking an escalation in the Trump administration's confrontation with allies over free speech policies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the measures, stating that Americans had been "fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights." In a post shared on social media platform X, Rubio said the restrictions would apply to "foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans," adding that free speech was "a birthright over which foreign governments have no authority." In a statement, Rubio stated, "Free speech is among the most cherished rights we enjoy as Americans. This right, legally enshrined in our constitution, has set us apart as a beacon of freedom around the world. Even as we take action to reject censorship at home, we see troubling instances of foreign governments and foreign officials picking up the slack. In some instances, foreign officials have taken flagrant censorship actions against U.S. tech companies and U.S. citizens and residents when they have no authority to do so." "Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign nationals who are responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States. 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," he added. The announcement follows a high-profile dispute between X owner, Elon Musk, and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, which arose after the social media platform was ordered to remove certain posts. The measures also align with a Republican-authored bill titled the "No Censors on Our Shores" Act, which was approved by the House Judiciary Committee earlier this year. Also, US Vice President JD Vance has been particularly vocal in criticising European approaches to online content regulation. He has argued that the European Union's Digital Services Act could effectively "export European-style censorship" to the United States through pressure on American technology companies. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in February, Vance accused European leaders of suppressing dissenting opinions by labelling them as "misinformation" and "disinformation." The Vice President cited several specific examples of what he characterised as European overreach, including the UK's prosecution of individuals for silent prayer outside abortion clinics, the annulment of Romania's 2024 presidential election results over alleged foreign interference, and Germany's monitoring of anti-feminist content online. He also referenced the conviction of a Christian activist in Sweden for burning a Quran, warning of what he called "the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values." The new visa restrictions signal a significant shift in the US diplomatic approach, with America's top diplomat declaring that "the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over." The visa restrictions were announced as the administration separately examines enhanced social media vetting requirements for student visas. On Tuesday, Rubio instructed diplomatic missions to suspend interviews for additional student and exchange visitor visa appointments, including F, M, and J categories, according to media reports.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. Issues Major Travel Warning for Venezuela
The U.S. has issued a major travel warning for Venezuela. The alert includes these suggestions: Do not travel to Venezuela. U.S. citizens in Venezuela should depart immediately. Avoid all Venezuelan borders. "Do not travel to Venezuela for any reason and avoid Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana," the U.S. Department of State wrote on May 27, 2025. "The U.S. government warns U.S. citizens against travel to Venezuela for any reason. Venezuela has the highest Travel Advisory level – Level 4: Do Not Travel – due to severe risks to Americans including wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure," the travel warning says. "More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country. Other foreign nationals in Venezuela are also frequently unjustly detained. U.S. citizens in Venezuela should depart immediately," it adds. "There is no U.S. embassy or consulate operating in Venezuela and the U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela." According to Fox News, "more U.S. nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than anywhere else in the world." Venezuelan borders with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana "are not clearly marked in many locations. Do not go near the border due to the risk of crossing into Venezuela accidentally and being detained," the Department of State warns. "U.S. citizens are at extreme risk of detention when entering Venezuela at any location. They may be unjustly charged with terrorism or other serious crimes and detained for long periods. U.S. citizens have been detained upon arrival at land borders, airports, and maritime ports of entry," the warning says. "There is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela." Venezuelan authorities "do not inform the U.S. government of the detention of U.S. citizens and the U.S. government is not able to visit those citizens. Venezuelan authorities do not allow detained U.S. citizens to contact family members or private attorneys," the release adds.U.S. Issues Major Travel Warning for Venezuela first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
Fox News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
US warns Venezuela now poses 'highest risk' for American travelers
The United States government is advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Venezuela and its borders. Venezuela currently has the highest Travel Advisory with a level 4. Per the U.S. Department of State, citizens are warned not to travel to Venezuela due to severe risks. The risks include wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure. Currently, more U.S. nationals are wrongfully detained in Venezuela than anywhere else in the world. In March 2019, the DOS withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and suspended operations. This means there is no U.S. consulate operating in Venezuela and the U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela. Police and security forces have instituted a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy or anti-regime demonstrations, including the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against participants, which occasionally devolve into looting and vandalism. If you are planning to still travel to Venezuela, the State Department recommends you do the following before traveling. Travelers should prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and power of attorney. Develop a communication plan with family or your company with a "proof of life" protocol and consider hiring a professional security detail. Travelers should have an understanding that medical care will be limited in Venezuela, especially over-the-counter medication. Avoid Venezuela's border areas with Colombia, Brazil, and Guyana as Colombian terrorist groups operate in those areas. If you choose to travel to Venezuela, the U.S. will not be able to assist you in recovering lost, stolen or expired travel documents. It is advised that any U.S. citizen currently in Venezuela should depart immediately.
CBS News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
U.S. warns Americans not to travel to Venezuela due to risks of torture, kidnapping
The U.S. State Department is warning citizens not to travel to Venezuela, warning of "severe risks" including wrongful detention, kidnapping and torture. The State Department said that it does not have an operating embassy or consulate in the South American country, and cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens there. All U.S. citizens currently in Venezuela should leave immediately, the State Department said. "U.S. citizens are at extreme risk of detention when entering Venezuela at any location. They may be unjustly charged with terrorism or other serious crimes and detained for long periods," the State Department said in a news release announcing the warning. "U.S. citizens have been detained upon arrival at land borders, airports, and maritime ports of entry. There is no safe way for Americans to travel to Venezuela." More U.S. nationals are currently wrongfully detained in Venezuela than in any other country, the department said. In some cases, detentions have happened when people accidentally cross into Venezuela from neighboring countries, where borders may not be clearly marked. Detained Americans may also be unjustly charged with serious crimes, including terrorism, the State Department said. The Venezuelan government does not report detentions to the U.S. government, making it impossible for the U.S. to visit those citizens or intervene. U.S. citizens detained in Venezuela also cannot contact family members or private attorneys, the State Department said. Other potential concerns in Venezuela include the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, civil unrest and poor health infrastructure, the State Department said. The map below shows State Department travel advisories by country. Hover over a country to see what level advisory it has and search for a specific nation in the table. Travel advisories by country
CNN
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Record number of Americans applied for UK citizenship as Trump began second term
A record number of Americans applied for British citizenship between January and March, according to the first set of data covering the start of Donald Trump's second presidential term. Some 1,931 Americans put in an application, the most since records began in 2004 and a jump of 12% on the previous quarter, figures from the UK Home Office showed Thursday. Applications had already soared during the October-December period, which coincided with Trump's re-election. Successful applications by US citizens to settle permanently in the United Kingdom, rather than just move there initially, also hit a record high last year, the latest period for which official data is available. Settlement comes with the right to live, work and study in Britain indefinitely and can be used to apply for citizenship. More than 5,500 Americans were granted settled status in 2024, a fifth more than in 2023. The last time American applications for British citizenship spiked was in 2020, during Trump's first presidential term and at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Other data also showed that in the first six months of 2020 more than 5,800 Americans gave up their citizenship, nearly triple the number from all of 2019. The statistics were compiled by Bambridge Accountants, a firm with offices in New York and London specializing in cross-border taxation. 'These are mainly people who already left the US and just decided they've had enough of everything,' Alistair Bambridge, a partner at Bambridge Accountants, told CNN in August 2020. Many people who renounced their citizenship complained of being unhappy with the political climate in the United States at the time and how the pandemic was being handled, but another reason for their decision was often taxes, he said. While many Americans are looking to build a life in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, that's becoming more difficult. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week that the government would toughen requirements for legal migrants and extend the wait for newcomers to claim citizenship. And earlier this week, Italy enacted a law that removes the route to citizenship through great-grandparents. The country had already tightened visa rules for non-European Union citizens. CNN's Alaa Elassar, Barbie Latza Nadeau and Rob Picheta contributed reporting.
