RismadarVoice Reporters
September 29, 2026
The United States has revoked the visas of judges, prosecutors, lawmakers and business figures from four South American countries as part of measures targeting individuals it accuses of corruption, narcotics trafficking and actions undermining democratic governments.
The US State Department announced the measures on Monday, saying they affected individuals from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said the restrictions targeted foreign nationals and their immediate family members accused by Washington of undermining democratically elected governments through corruption or narcotics trafficking.
The four countries participate in the “Shield of the Americas” initiative, which seeks to strengthen regional cooperation against drug cartels, organised crime and other security threats.
According to the State Department, visas were revoked for 12 Bolivians, two Colombians, two Ecuadorians and one Peruvian.
Those affected reportedly include senior prosecutors, an anti-corruption judge and a police colonel in Bolivia.
Washington also declared nine other Bolivians who did not currently possess US visas generally ineligible to obtain them.
The State Department did not publicly provide detailed reasons for its action against most of the individuals.
However, Bolivia’s Attorney General, Roger Mariaca, was separately designated over what Washington described as involvement in significant corruption.
The United States accused Mariaca of abusing public positions by allegedly soliciting and accepting bribes to facilitate narcotics trafficking and helping violent criminals evade justice.
The allegations against Mariaca are claims by the US government, and the designation itself does not constitute a criminal conviction.
The measure also generally makes Mariaca and members of his immediate family ineligible to enter the United States.
Washington linked the visa restrictions to commitments made under the Shield of the Americas initiative, whose participating governments have pledged greater coordination on sanctions, financial measures and other actions against individuals accused of threatening security, democracy and the rule of law.
The latest measures form part of the Trump administration’s broader Latin America policy, which has placed increased emphasis on combating drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has played a leading role in the administration’s engagement with the region as Washington seeks greater cooperation with participating governments on security and narcotics enforcement.
