Rubio Announces Global Visa Bans for Cybercrime Perpetrators

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new global visa restriction policy on July 23, 2026, targeting foreign nationals responsible for or complicit in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crimes. Enacted under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and following Executive Order 14390 issued by President Donald Trump, the policy allows the U.S. government to deny visas to perpetrators and their immediate family members. The measures specifically target those involved in sextortion scams and online investment fraud.

Rubio stated that online investment scams, frequently orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations, defrauded U.S. citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024. The administration linked these activities to broader issues including human trafficking, money laundering, and corruption. While the policy is global in scope, the State Department has not yet named specific individuals or countries for targeting.

This initiative is part of a wider security push that includes a July 16 policy targeting members of far-left terrorist groups under National Security Presidential Memorandum-7. To dismantle these networks, the administration plans to combine visa bans with sanctions, criminal prosecutions, asset seizures, and extradition requests through international law enforcement cooperation.