The United States is imposing visa restrictions on an executive of a charter flight transportation company for facilitating irregular migration to the country via Nicaragua from outside the Western Hemisphere. According to officials, these companies exploit vulnerable migrants by operating services designed primarily for irregular migration to the United States. Additionally, the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua continues to benefit financially from this exploitation.
U.S. visa restrictions aim to promote accountability among those involved in such activities. "No one should profit from vulnerable migrants—not smugglers, private companies, or public officials," stated a U.S. government representative. The official further emphasized that efforts will continue to impose visa restrictions against owners, executives, and senior officials of unscrupulous transportation companies as part of a broader campaign to eliminate exploitative practices within and beyond the Western Hemisphere. This initiative is being conducted in collaboration with partners in both government and the private sector.
These actions follow a State Department policy announced in February 2024, which expanded and superseded a prior policy from November 2023 under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 212(a)(3)(C). The policy targets senior officials of companies providing transportation by land, sea, or charter air primarily used by individuals intending to migrate irregularly to the United States.
