Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
March
14, 2025
Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction
policy that will apply to current or former foreign
government officials responsible for, or complicit in, the
forced return of Uyghurs or members of other ethnic or
religious groups with protection concerns to China. We are
committed to combating China’s efforts to pressure
governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to
China, where they are subject to torture and enforced
disappearances.
I am immediately implementing this
policy by taking steps to impose visa restrictions on
current and former officials from the Government of Thailand
responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40
Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27.
In light of
China’s longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against
humanity committed against Uyghurs, we call on governments
around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and other
groups to China.
This visa restriction policy is
pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act and allows the Department of State to pursue
visa restrictions for current or former foreign government
officials who are responsible for, or complicit in, the
forced return to China of Uyghurs or members of other ethnic
or religious groups with protection concerns. Certain family
members of such persons may also be subject to these
restrictions.
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