The United States announced on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, the extension of its visa restriction policy for executives of travel companies that facilitate illegal immigration to the United States.
This measure, according to a press release published on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, is based on section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and targets individuals facilitating irregular immigration and profiting from the exploitation of vulnerable migrants.
According to the statement, the expanded policy will now also apply to managers of travel agencies and tour operators that provide travel services primarily to irregular migrants traveling to the United States. U.S. officials said the move is aimed at combating the exploitation of migrants by working with government and private partners.
“We will continue to use visa restrictions against unscrupulous transportation executives as part of our broader campaign to eliminate exploitative practices within and beyond the Western Hemisphere, working with our partners in government and the private sector. No one should take advantage of vulnerable migrants, whether they are smugglers, private companies, government officials, or anyone else,” the statement said.
This action, according to the statement, extends a State Department policy announced in February 2024, which replaced a prior policy announced in November 2023, under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
“This policy previously targeted senior executives of companies providing transport services by land, sea or air, and will now also apply to senior executives of travel agencies and tour operators,” the statement concluded.
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