US goes after foreign authorities 'complicit' in Americans' censorship
3 Min Read
The new visa policy could bar foreign officials, and possibly their families, accused of censoring Americans, as Washington links immigration control to the protection of civil liberties.
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares at the State Department, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced a new visa policy aimed at foreign officials and individuals accused of involvement in censoring American citizens abroad. The move, framed as a defense of free speech and national sovereignty, marks a significant escalation in Washington’s response to what it views as extraterritorial attempts to silence Americans.
Writing on X, Rubio stated that American citizens have faced “fines, harassment, and even criminal charges” by foreign authorities for exercising their right to free expression abroad.
“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans,” he declared.
Rubio emphasized that the right to free speech is foundational to American identity and warned foreign governments against attempting to undermine it.
“Foreign governments have no authority over the rights of Americans,” he said firmly.
“Foreigners who work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country,” he added.
Rubio went on to say that the era of “passive treatment” toward such violations is over, regardless of whether they occur in “Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere.”
Targeting digital censorship, platform pressure
In a follow-up statement, Rubio sharply criticized foreign governments that target Americans for online expression or attempt to pressure US-based platforms into enforcing content restrictions. He called such efforts a breach of US sovereignty and an infringement on the “fundamental right to free speech.”
The State Department clarified that the visa restrictions would also extend to “certain family members” of individuals deemed responsible for such actions.
US censors foreign students
The announcement follows recent reports that the Trump administration temporarily paused student visa interviews while reviewing enhanced social media screening procedures for foreign students. The policy shift has already led to the revocation of over 1,000 student visas.
Many of those affected were reportedly connected to pro-Palestine protests or political activism on campuses such as Harvard and Stanford. Rubio defended the cancellations, stating that visas are a privilege, not a right, and that the US reserves full discretion over who is allowed entry.
This new visa restriction policy forms part of a wider campaign by the current administration to assert greater control over immigration in the context of free speech. It also serves as a warning to foreign officials accused of extraterritorial censorship: engaging in efforts to silence Americans, even abroad, may now carry direct diplomatic consequences.
The US policy shift is likely to heighten tensions with countries accused of suppressing dissent, especially those already under scrutiny for digital surveillance and press crackdowns.
Read next: US halts student Visa processing amid Trump's social media scrutiny
