State Department restricts visas for 250 Nicaraguan officials

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday announced that his department will restrict the visas of more than 250 Nicaraguan officials over human rights violations committed by its leaders.

The Nicaraguan legislature in January approved a constitutional amendment that allows Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo to serve as co-presidents. The Oretga's government has also been accused of imprisoning political protesters, reporters and religious leaders, according to The Hill.

Rubio claimed in a post on X that the regime is an "enemy of humanity" and accused it of "weaponizing immigration" by serving as a hub for illegal migrants hoping to enter the United States.

“As we mark seven years since the Ortega and Murillo regime’s brutal wave of repression against protesters, we reflect on the protesters’ courage and desire to live in a Nicaragua free from tyranny,” Rubio said in a statement. “The United States will not stand for Ortega and Murillo’s continued assault on Nicaragua.” 

The secretary added that the U.S. has now restricted visas for more than 2,000 Nicaraguan officials altogether. The move comes after the Biden administration imposed sanctions and restrictions on more than 250 members of the country's government and their family members last year.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.