US Curbs Visas for South African Officials

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday a new visa restriction policy barring South African nationals the Trump administration says are responsible for race-based discrimination, uncompensated land seizures, or incitement of violence against minority groups in South Africa.

The State Department says Pretoria has failed to fix conduct President Trump has repeatedly described as anti-white discrimination — an allegation he has at times called a "white genocide."

South Africa's government strongly rejects the accusation.

What the Policy Does

The restrictions are imposed under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which authorizes the Secretary of State to declare an alien inadmissible when their entry into the United States would carry potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences.

The curbs can also extend to certain family members of the people designated.

Neither the number of officials targeted nor their names has been made public.