The United States Department of State has announced the imposition of visa restrictions on over 350 members of the Nicaraguan National Police (NNP). This decision is part of a broader effort initiated in November 2021, following President Biden’s Presidential Proclamation to safeguard democracy in Nicaragua. Since then, more than 1,750 Nicaraguan officials have faced similar restrictions.

According to Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson, these actions are intended to support "the Nicaraguan people’s aspirations for freedom, justice, and dignity." The individuals affected by the latest restrictions are linked to the government led by President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo. This administration has been accused of engaging in targeted attacks on civil society that undermine democratic processes and suppress dissent through punitive measures.

The U.S. government has urged Ortega and Murillo to halt activities such as threats, harassment, and unjust detention against advocates for civil society and freedoms of expression. These concerns were highlighted during Nicaragua’s fourth Universal Periodic Review by the UN Human Rights Council. The ongoing dismantling of civic space by revoking the legal status of over 5,500 NGOs is seen as a move that stifles dissent and fosters fear within Nicaragua.

The visa restrictions were enacted under Presidential Proclamation 10309. This proclamation suspends entry into the United States for members of the Government of Nicaragua and others involved in policies undermining democratic institutions.