Overview

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled on May 28 a State Department policy under the Immigration and Nationality Act to bar visas for foreign nationals deemed responsible for censoring protected expression in the U.S.
• The policy specifically targets officials who issue or threaten arrest warrants against U.S. citizens or residents for posts on American social media platforms.
• It also covers those who pressure U.S. tech companies to adopt global content moderation mandates or engage in censorship beyond their jurisdiction.
• The move responds to foreign regulations such as the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which the Trump administration has criticized as overreaching and harmful to free expression.
• Implementation details—including which countries and individuals will be named and how the restrictions will be enforced—have not been disclosed, even as the administration expands social media vetting for student and exchange visas.