Visa Restrictions on Chilean Nationals Undermining Regional Security

PRESS STATEMENT

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE

FEBRUARY 20, 2026

The United States is committed to countering attempts to undermine regional security and subvert sovereignty.  Today, the Department of State is announcing it has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on three Chilean government officials who knowingly directed, authorized, funded, provided significant support to, and/or carried out activities that compromised critical telecommunications infrastructure and undermined regional security in our hemisphere.  These individuals and their immediate family members will be generally ineligible for entry into the United States, and any U.S. visas held by them have been revoked. 

These actions reaffirm President Trump’s commitment to protect America’s economic prosperity and national security interests in our region.  We continue to promote accountability for Chilean nationals who intentionally work to destabilize our hemisphere. In its twilight, the Boric government’s legacy shall be further tarnished by actions that undermine regional security at the ultimate expense of the Chilean people.  We look forward to advancing shared priorities, including those that strengthen security in our hemisphere, with the incoming Kast Administration.

We continue to use all available tools to promote safety and security of our region.

These actions are being taken pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) and Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Imposition of Visa Restrictions on Uzbekistanis Facilitating Illegal Immigration to the United States

PRESS STATEMENT

THOMAS “TOMMY” PIGOTT, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON

FEBRUARY 19, 2026

The Department of State has taken steps to impose visa restrictions on individuals in Uzbekistan identified as knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to our nation. This action applies to executives and senior officials at two Uzbekistan-based visa facilitation companies who knowingly provided travel services designed primarily for aliens intending to illegally immigrate to the United States. These actions are taken under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which generally bars entry to those whose entry or proposed activities would have potentially serious adverse U.S. foreign policy consequences.

Investigations indicate that individuals in Uzbekistan actively coordinated transportation for aliens, including minors, intending to illegally immigrate to the United States through airports and across borders to transit points in Central America, where many were later encountered attempting to enter the United States illegally.

The United States will not tolerate any attempts to undermine our national security or immigration laws. The Department will ensure those who profit from illegal immigration face consequences, and we will aggressively target smuggling networks to protect our borders and national security. The United States reaffirms its deep appreciation to the Government of Uzbekistan for its close cooperation to shut down the criminal networks that facilitate illegal immigration to the United States.