The United States has introduced a new global visa restriction policy targeting individuals involved in cybercrime, cyberscams and sextortion, with immediate family members of offenders also facing possible visa restrictions under the new measures. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the policy forms part of the Trump administration’s efforts to combat online fraud, cyber-enabled crime and transnational criminal networks targeting Americans. government, the restrictions will apply to individuals responsible for or complicit in cyber-enabled crimes, including online investment scams and sextortion, regardless of their country of origin.
Announcing the policy, Rubio said the move aligns with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14390 on combating cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes targeting Americans. He described online investment scams as a growing threat, noting that they are “often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations.” Rubio added that scammers “have defrauded U.S. citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024 alone while fueling corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking.” Rubio also highlighted the growing threat posed by online sextortion, particularly against minors.
“American children also have been specifically targeted by offenders operating overseas for sextortion scams, devastating families and futures,” he said. Explaining the scope of the new visa policy, Rubio said, “This policy targets individuals responsible for, or complicit in, cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, such as those involved in cyberscams and sextortion. Immediate family members of individuals engaged in such illicit activities may also be subjected to visa restrictions.” He said the visa restrictions are part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to dismantle criminal networks operating across borders.
“The Trump Administration is deploying every tool at our disposal—sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, extradition requests, and international law enforcement cooperation—to dismantle criminal scam networks and impose costs on those who enable them,” he said. Rubio added that restricting visas sends a clear message to perpetrators of cyber-enabled crimes targeting Americans. “By restricting visa issuance to those who are responsible for or complicit in these criminal enterprises,…
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