U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on Foreign Nationals Linked to Corruption and Narcotrafficking in the Western Hemisphere

The Department of State announced new visa restrictions under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, targeting foreign nationals and their immediate family members who undermine democratically elected governments through corruption or narcotrafficking activities in the region. The policy aligns with commitments made at the Doral Summit and reaffirmed in the Shield of the Americas leaders’ statement, and is designed to allow the United States to act quickly in coordination with partners as evidence develops.

The Department is taking immediate steps to impose visa restrictions in support of Shield of the Americas participants Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Bolivia: The Trump Administration imposed visa restrictions on twelve Bolivian nationals and their families. Existing visas were revoked for the following individuals and their families:

• Martin Daniel IRUSTA FLORES, Senior Prosecutor
• Albania Chane CABALLERO SAAVEDRA, First Anti-Corruption and Violence Against Women Investigating Judge in the Department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia
• Alberto ZEBALLOS FLORES, Santa Cruz Head Prosecutor
• Rosario Ximena FLORES PANIAGUA, Criminal Instruction Judge in the Department of Santa Cruz
• Ivan Manolo LIMA MAGNE, Former Minister of Justice and Institutional Transparency
• Alvaro Mauricio NAVA MORALES CARRASCO, Current Senior Prosecutor and Former Departmental Prosecutor of Chuquisaca, Bolivia
• Israel Ramiro CAMPERO MENDEZ, Constitutional Magistrate
• Alberto Samuel SOTO DE LA VIA, Former Executive President of the National Customs
• Ivan Ramiro CAMPERO VILLALBA, Former Alternate Supreme Court Magistrate
• Rodrigo Aldo VEDIA ESPINOZA, Judge of the First Criminal Instruction Court of La Guardia
• Frans William CABRERA QUISPE, Colonel, Bolivian Police
• Jose Luis IRIARTE CUSSI, Private Businessman

Nine additional Bolivian nationals who do not currently possess visas, and their families, were rendered generally ineligible to receive visas.

Colombia: Visa restrictions were imposed on two Colombian nationals and their families. Existing visas were revoked for the following individuals and their families:

• Euclides Antonio TORRES ROMERO, Private businessman who owns a conglomerate operating mainly in the energy, traffic-signal, and public-lighting sectors
• Martha Isabel PERALTA EPIEYU, Senator affiliated with Historic Pact (Pacto Historico) and the Alternative Indigenous and Social Movement (MAIS)

Ecuador: Visa restrictions were imposed on two Ecuadorian nationals and their families. Existing visas were revoked for both individuals.

Peru: Visa restrictions were imposed on one Peruvian national and his family. Existing visas were revoked for the following individual and his family:

• Juan Carlos NUNEZ MATOS, Lima First Circuit Constitutional Court Judge

These visa restriction policy actions are taken under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which bars entry to those whose entry or proposed activities have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

The Department of State is also publicly designating Bolivia’s Attorney General Roger Mariaca for his involvement in significant corruption. This action renders Mariaca and his immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States.

Mariaca, elected in 2024 to a six-year term as attorney general during the tenure of President Luis Arce, and a prior attorney general of Santa Cruz, is alleged to have abused his public positions by soliciting and accepting bribes to facilitate narcotrafficking and helping violent criminals evade justice. His actions are cited as endangering efforts to combat narcoterrorism while undermining democratic institutions Bolivia, as a Shield participant, is working to strengthen. This public designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (Div. F, P.L. 119-75), which requires the Secretary of State to publicly or privately designate foreign officials and their immediate family members about whom the Secretary has credible information of involvement in significant corruption or a gross violation of human rights.

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