Washington: The United States has announced that immediate family members of individuals responsible for or complicit in cybercrime, including cyberscams and 'sextortion', may also face strict visa restrictions under a new global policy.
According to Ghana Web, a press statement dated July 23, 2026, by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined the policy introduced under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This policy targets individuals involved in cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime. The statement emphasized that immediate family members of those engaged in such illicit activities might also face visa restrictions.
The policy announcement is part of President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14390 aimed at combating cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes against American citizens. The administration has highlighted the order as a measure to counter an unprecedented threat from online investment scams.
The statement revealed that scammers, often orchestrated by Chinese transnational criminal organizations, defrauded US citizens of at least $10 billion in 2024. These activities have also been linked to fueling corruption, money laundering, and human trafficking. Furthermore, American children have been targeted by international offenders for sextortion scams, which have had severe impacts on families and futures.
Rubio stated that the Trump administration is utilizing all available tools, including sanctions, prosecutions, asset seizures, extradition requests, and international law enforcement cooperation to dismantle these criminal networks. The goal is to impose costs on those who enable such activities. "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," he affirmed.