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The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday a significant expansion of its visa restriction policy, aimed at nationals from the Western Hemisphere who act on behalf of adversarial powers to undermine U.S. interests in the region.
In a press release published on its website, the government entity stated that the measure falls within the National Security Strategy of President Donald Trump and was implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a foreign policy tool that does not allow for exemptions and applies to both immigrants and non-immigrants.
As a first concrete action under this expanded policy, the State Department has already imposed visa restrictions on 26 individuals in various countries across the Western Hemisphere.
According to the official statement from the Office of the Spokesperson, the expanded policy allows for visa restrictions on individuals who, while in the Western Hemisphere and intentionally acting on behalf of adversarial countries, direct, authorize, finance, or provide significant support to activities that undermine the interests of the United States in the region. Analysts have interpreted this initiative as part of the so-called Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.
The restrictions also extend to the immediate family members of the sanctioned individuals, who generally will not be able to enter the United States.
This policy adds to other measures of pressure adopted by the Trump administration in the region, including the declaration of national emergency pointing to Cuba as a threat and imposing tariffs on countries that supply oil to the island.
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