On May 28, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new visa restriction policy aimed at foreign nationals involved in censoring Americans. The policy targets individuals responsible for suppressing protected expression within the United States.
Rubio emphasized the importance of free speech as a fundamental American right, stating, "Free speech is among the most cherished rights we enjoy as Americans." He expressed concern over foreign governments and officials engaging in censorship actions against U.S. tech companies and citizens without proper authority.
The policy aims to address situations where foreign officials issue or threaten arrest warrants on U.S. citizens or residents for social media posts made on American platforms while present in the United States. It also targets demands by foreign officials for American tech platforms to adopt global content moderation policies that exceed their jurisdiction.
Rubio declared that such actions are unacceptable and constitute encroachments upon American sovereignty, undermining the right to free speech. The visa restrictions are based on Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State to deem an alien inadmissible if their entry could have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. Certain family members may also be affected by these restrictions.