Security
The United States has introduced a new visa restriction policy targeting individuals involved in cybercrime and cyber-enabled criminal activities, expanding its efforts to combat global online fraud, investment scams and sextortion schemes.
Announcing the policy, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said visa restrictions will apply to individuals responsible for or complicit in cyber-enabled crimes, including cyberscams and online sextortion. Immediate family members of those engaged in such activities may also be denied U.S. visas.
The new policy is being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and follows President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14390 on combating cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes targeting American citizens.
According to the U.S. State Department, online investment scams-often linked to Chinese transnational criminal organisations—defrauded Americans of at least $10 billion in 2024. The department also cited the growing threat of online sextortion targeting children as a key driver behind the new measures.
"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," Rubio said in a statement.
He added that restricting visa access sends a clear message that the United States will pursue individuals who profit from cyber-enabled fraud and other online criminal activities.
The visa restrictions add another layer to the U.S. government's broader strategy of using diplomatic, legal and financial measures to disrupt international cybercrime networks. In recent years, Washington has increasingly relied on sanctions, criminal indictments and coordinated law enforcement actions against ransomware operators, cyber fraud syndicates and state-linked cyber actors.
The latest move underscores the growing use of immigration policy as a cybersecurity enforcement tool, complementing traditional criminal investigations and international cooperation to deter cybercriminals operating across borders.
Announcing the policy, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said visa restrictions will apply to individuals responsible for or complicit in cyber-enabled crimes, including cyberscams and online sextortion. Immediate family members of those engaged in such activities may also be denied U.S. visas.
The new policy is being implemented under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act and follows President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14390 on combating cybercrime, fraud and predatory schemes targeting American citizens.
According to the U.S. State Department, online investment scams-often linked to Chinese transnational criminal organisations—defrauded Americans of at least $10 billion in 2024. The department also cited the growing threat of online sextortion targeting children as a key driver behind the new measures.
"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," Rubio said in a statement.
He added that restricting visa access sends a clear message that the United States will pursue individuals who profit from cyber-enabled fraud and other online criminal activities.
The visa restrictions add another layer to the U.S. government's broader strategy of using diplomatic, legal and financial measures to disrupt international cybercrime networks. In recent years, Washington has increasingly relied on sanctions, criminal indictments and coordinated law enforcement actions against ransomware operators, cyber fraud syndicates and state-linked cyber actors.
The latest move underscores the growing use of immigration policy as a cybersecurity enforcement tool, complementing traditional criminal investigations and international cooperation to deter cybercriminals operating across borders.
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