The administration of President Joe Biden has implemented visa restrictions on executives of several Colombian maritime companies accused of exploiting vulnerable migrants seeking to enter the United States. 

Joe Biden Administration Sanctions Colombian Maritime Companies Facilitating the Irregular Migration of Migrants

In a statement released on Monday, the US State Department said these companies, which were not identified, knowingly facilitated the irregular migration of migrants by sea and exposed them to exploitation and violence.

According to the State Department, this visa restriction initiative is part of a broader effort of the US government "to eliminate such exploitative practices within and beyond the Western Hemisphere."

This policy stems from a State Department directive announced last February, which was built upon and superseded a previous policy related to Nicaragua announced in November 2023 under Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) Section 212(a)(3)(C).

It targets senior officials of firms providing land, sea, or air transportation designed primarily for use by migrants seeking to illegally enter the US.

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Joe Biden Administration: 'No One Should Profit From Vulnerable Migrants'

The State Department said the latest visa restrictions apply to "unscrupulous transportation company owners, executives, and senior officials."

"US visa restrictions promote accountability for these actors and send a signal that no one should profit from vulnerable migrants-not smugglers, private companies, nor public officials," the State Department said in the statement. 

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