The United States has announced a sweeping new visa restriction policy targeting suspected online fraudsters, cybercriminals, romance scammers and sextortion perpetrators, with the sanctions also extending to their immediate family members. The move is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on global cybercrime networks that target American citizens.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled the policy on Thursday under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, saying the new measures are aimed at individuals involved in or complicit in cyber-enabled crimes.
He said, “This policy targets individuals responsible for, or complicit in, cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, such as those involved in cybersc+ms and s+xt@rtion.”
Rubio stressed that the United States is determined to pursue those responsible for defrauding Americans.
He added, “By restricting visa issuance to those who are responsible for or complicit in these criminal enterprises, we are sending a clear message: The United States will go after those who prey on our citizens.”
According to Rubio, the visa restrictions may also apply to close relatives of those involved in online fraud.
He said, “Immediate family members of individuals engaged in such illicit activities may also be subjected to visa restrictions.”
The Secretary of State further disclosed that the Trump administration is using multiple strategies to dismantle international scam syndicates.
He stated, “The Trump Administration is deploying every tool at our disposal, sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, extradition requests, and international law enforcement cooperation, to dismantle criminal sc+m networks and impose costs on those who enable them.”
Rubio alleged that many of the criminal operations are “often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organisations,” which he said defrauded U.S. citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024 while contributing to corruption, money laundering and human trafficking.
He also referenced President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14390 on combating cybercrime and online fraud, noting that the administration is intensifying efforts against investment scams and sextortion schemes.
Rubio added, “American children have also been specifically targeted by offenders operating overseas for s+xt@rtion sc+ms, devastating families and futures.”
The announcement comes as U.S. authorities continue expanding international cooperation to identify and prosecute cybercriminals operating across borders, while imposing tougher immigration consequences on those linked to online fraud.
