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State Department Restricts Visas Under Shield of Americas

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 6:20 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

State Visa Restrictions

U.S. Department of State imposed visa restrictions on officials from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru under the Shield of Americas.
Undersecretary of State Christopher Landau said the initiative moves from commitments to concrete action.
Attorney General Roger Mariaca of Bolivia was placed on the foreign officials corruption list and barred from U.S. entry.
Twelve Bolivian officials, including former Justice Minister Iván Lima, and their families had U.S. visas revoked.

Summary

Jones Opposes H-1B Tax

Attorney General Jay Jones joined 22 attorneys general to file a letter opposing the $100,000 H-1B visa tax.
The coalition says the rule exceeds USCIS authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The letter warns the tax would cripple states’ ability to fill teacher doctor and nurse shortages.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, signed by President Ronald Reagan, granted legal status to 2.7 million undocumented immigrants. The law also imposed a $1 billion employer-sanction fund, overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor, to enforce hiring penalties. Today, the State Department under Undersecretary Christopher Landau revokes visas for Bolivian officials like Roger Mariaca, while Attorney General Jay Jones leads a 22-state coalition challenging a $100,000 H-1B tax under USCIS authority. These actions echo the 1986 precedent, showing how immigration policy tools can be wielded to pressure foreign officials and reshape domestic labor markets.

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State Visa Restrictions

U.S. Department of State imposed visa restrictions on officials from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru under the Shield of Americas.
Undersecretary of State Christopher Landau said the initiative moves from commitments to concrete action.
Attorney General Roger Mariaca of Bolivia was placed on the foreign officials corruption list and barred from U.S. entry.
Twelve Bolivian officials, including former Justice Minister Iván Lima, and their families had U.S. visas revoked.

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