The United States has introduced a new global visa restriction policy targeting individuals involved in cybercri.me, cyberscams and se.xtortion, with immediate family members of offenders also facing possible visa restrictions under the new measures
The policy was announced on Thursday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to combat online fraud, cyber-enabled cri.me and transnational crim.inal networks targeting Americans.
Under the new policy, individuals responsible for or complicit in cyber-enabled crimes—including online investment scams and sextortion—could be denied U.S. visas regardless of their nationality. Their immediate family members may also be affected by the restrictions.
Announcing the policy, Rubio said the move aligns with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14390 on combating cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes targeting Americans.
He described online investment scams as an increasing threat, noting that they are “often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations.”
Rubio said the scams “have defrauded U.S. citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024 alone while fueling corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking.”
He also expressed concern over the growing threat of online sextortion, particularly against minors.
“American children also have been specifically targeted by offenders operating overseas for sextortion scams, devastating families and futures,” Rubio said.
Explaining the scope of the new policy, he stated:
“This policy targets individuals responsible for, or complicit in, cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, such as those involved in cyberscams and sextortion. Immediate family members of individuals engaged in such illicit activities may also be subjected to visa restrictions.”
Rubio said the visa restrictions are one of several measures being deployed by the Trump administration to dismantle international scam networks.
“The Trump Administration is deploying every tool at our disposal—sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, extradition requests, and international law enforcement cooperation—to dismantle criminal scam networks and impose costs on those who enable them,” he said.
He added that the restrictions are intended to send a clear warning to those behind cyber-enabled crimes targeting Americans.
“By restricting visa issuance to those who are responsible for or complicit in these criminal enterprises, we are sending a clear message: The United States will go after those who prey on our citizens,” Rubio said.
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