Chicago – July 23, 2026
The United States on Thursday announced a new visa restriction policy aimed at foreign nationals responsible for or complicit in cybercrime and other cyber-enabled crimes, including cyberscams and sextortion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measure may also extend to immediate family members of those involved, signaling a broader effort to disrupt criminal networks that target Americans.
The State Department said the policy is designed to deter transnational scam operations and increase pressure on organized groups accused of exploiting U.S. citizens through online fraud. Officials framed the move as part of a wider strategy that includes sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, and international law enforcement cooperation. Reuters reported that the administration described the policy as a tool to deny entry to people tied to cybercrime-linked harm.
The announcement underscores Washington’s growing use of visa restrictions as a foreign policy instrument against digital crime.
