The United States has tightened its immigration policy with a new strategy: revoking or denying visas to family members and close associates of drug traffickers, with the goal of stopping the entry of fentanyl and other drugs into the country.
This measure, according to the State Department, affects both direct accomplices and close associates with personal or business ties to criminals related to drug trafficking.
“The imposition of visa restrictions on drug traffickers, their family members, and close personal and business associates will not only prevent their entry into the United States, but will also serve as a deterrent to the continuation of illicit activities,” stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Measure protected by immigration law
The decision is based on a provision of United States immigration law, which allows any foreigner whose presence in the country poses a risk to national security or public interests to be declared inadmissible.
With this, the State Department intends to use all available tools to curb the trafficking of fentanyl, a synthetic drug responsible for a public health crisis in the country.
“We will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs entering the US and harming American citizens,” Rubio added.
Fentanyl at the center of Trump’s speech
Since his return to the presidency in January, Donald Trump has made combating drug trafficking one of the main justifications for strengthening immigration and trade policies. According to his officials, these types of measures seek to send a clear message to criminal networks.
Rubio warned that the fentanyl crisis is “unprecedented” and noted that this substance is the leading cause of overdose death among Americans between the ages of 18 and 44.
In 2024, more than 220 deaths per day were recorded from this cause.
An offensive that goes beyond the cartels
Although it was not specified which countries or criminal groups will be most affected, this measure could directly impact Mexican organizations, such as the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación cartels, widely criticized for their role in the production and distribution of fentanyl.
With this offensive, the US government seeks to tighten its grip not only on drug trafficking leaders, but also on those who surround them and facilitate their operations, even if they are not directly involved in drug trafficking.
Source: elimparcial
