US Imposes Visa Restrictions on Colombian Executives Due to Alleged Irregular Transport of Migrants

Earlier this month, the United States announced that it “took steps today to impose visa restrictions on executives of several Colombian transportation companies moving migrants by sea,” according to the US Department of States.

In a brief, but clear statement, the State Department alleged that “these companies prey on vulnerable irregular migrants by operating services designed primarily to facilitate irregular migration to the United States.”

The State Department noted that these actions fall under a February policy that “targets senior officials of companies providing transportation by land, sea, or charter air designed for use primarily by persons intending to migrate irregularly to the United States.”

It added that “several companies providing maritime transportation are knowingly facilitating the irregular movement of migrants and exposing migrants to exploitation and violence” and that issuing visa restrictions “send a signal that no one should profit from vulnerable migrants—not smugglers, private companies, nor public officials.”

“We will continue to take steps to impose visa restrictions against unscrupulous transportation company owners, executives, and senior officials as part of our broader campaign to eliminate such exploitative practices within and beyond the Western Hemisphere, in collaboration with partners in government and in the private sector.”

Photo: The United States Department of Justice headquarters in Washington. (Photo credit: Coolcaesar)