Today, the State Department is expanding its efforts to combat corruption and drug trafficking in the region. These actions advance the commitments made by partners at the March Dora Summit and the September 22 American Shield Leaders’ Statement.
Under section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection imposed visa restrictions on 21 individuals from Colombia under the policy announced on September 28. This policy targets foreigners—regardless of political affiliation—who undermine democratically elected governments in our hemisphere through corruption or drug trafficking. The Trump administration stands with the Colombian government in its efforts to eliminate the influence of crime, including from courts, police forces and legislative bodies.
Colombia: Through this operation, the Department imposed visa restrictions on the following seven Colombian nationals and their family members under this policy:
- Ricardo ROA Barragan, former President of Ecopetrol
- Yahir Fernando ACUNA Cardales, Mayor of Sincelejo
- Wadith Alberto MANZUR IMBETT, Senator-elect, former Member of the House of Representatives
- Karen Astrith MANRIQUE OLARTE, Representative-elect
- Julio Elias Chagui Flores, former Senator
- Liliana Esther BITAR CASTILLA, former senator
- Jose Ignacio MESA BETANCUR, former congressman and former mayor of Envigado
INA Section 212(a)(3)(C) allows the Secretary of State to deny a visa to any alien if he has reasonable grounds to believe that the alien’s entry or proposed activities may have potentially serious adverse consequences for the foreign policy of the United States.