The United States has initiated measures to enforce visa restrictions on executives of air charter companies for facilitating irregular migration to the country.
As declared by the US State Department, this decision follows the increasing trend of charter airlines providing flights into Nicaragua intended primarily for irregular migrants, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to US authorities, these visa restrictions target transportation companies that profit from vulnerable migrants and help facilitate irregular migration to the United States.
No one should profit from vulnerable migrants — not smugglers, private companies, public officials, or governments. We will continue engaging with governments within and outside the Western Hemisphere, as well as with the private sector, to work toward eliminating this exploitative practice and will put in place additional visa restrictions as needed.
This policy was first announced last year and later expanded on February 21, 2024. More specifically, the US government implemented a new visa restriction last month targeting transportation operators involved in facilitating irregular migration worldwide, including to the US.
The policy in question particularly targets owners, executives, and senior officials of charter flight, ground, and maritime transportation companies that provide services primarily intended for individuals attempting to migrate irregularly to the US territory.
US Urged Prospective Migrants To Explore Safe & Legal Routes
As authorities further explained, individuals who reach the country illegally often pay high fees, putting themselves and their families at risk, only to be placed into removal proceedings pursuant to US immigration legislation.
This measure replaced the Nicaragua 3C policy on charter flights, which was first introduced last November.
Back then, the US authorities encouraged prospective migrants to explore safe and legal routes to migrate to US territory.
We urge Haitian, Cuban, and other would-be migrants to seek out the many safe and lawful pathways available to migrate to the United States.
US Introduced Visa Restrictions to Some Other Categories
Despite transportation operators, the US authorities have introduced visa restrictions in other certain categories.
In February of this year, the US authorities introduced a new visa policy targeting individuals involved in the misuse of commercial spyware.
Whereas last December, the US State Department revealed its plans to enforce visa restrictions on several individuals from Honduras who were alleged to be involved in violence, intimidation, and incitement of conflict within the country.
Furthermore, the US announced visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalans during the same month. Individuals who were visa-restricted were accused of undermining democracy and the rule of law.