US Imposes Visa Restrictions on Named Bolivian Officials and Families

The U.S. Department of State announced on 22 October 2026 that it is imposing visa restrictions on 40 individuals in Bolivia under a policy it set out on 28 September. For Bolivia, the announcement names 15 nationals who are affected, along with their immediate family members.

Key facts

• Announced: 22 October 2026 by the U.S. Department of State
• Scope: visa restrictions on 40 individuals in Bolivia; 15 nationals named for Bolivia
• Also covered: the immediate family members of those named
• Legal basis: Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
• Stated grounds: corruption or narcotrafficking activities said to undermine democratically elected governments in the hemisphere

What is changing?

The State Department is refusing U.S. visas to the listed individuals and their immediate family members. The measure was taken under a policy announced on 28 September and follows the Doral Summit in March and the 22 September Shield of the Americas leaders' statement.

Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows the Secretary of State to refuse a visa to any foreign national if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person's entry or proposed activities would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. The policy targets foreign nationals who, through corruption or narcotrafficking, undermine democratically elected governments in the hemisphere, regardless of their political affiliation.

Who is affected?

The announcement names 15 Bolivian nationals, including sitting and former legislators, prosecutors, judges, police and migration officials, and one private citizen:

• Rafael Dario Lopez Mercado, National Deputy, Plurinational Legislative Assembly
• Rolando Santos Pacheco Chavez, National Deputy, Plurinational Legislative Assembly
• Juan Lanchipa Ponce, former Attorney General
• Felix Gerardo Balderas Arteaga, former Departmental Prosecutor of Beni
• Julio Cesar Porras Velarde, Coordinating Prosecutor, Controlled Substances Unit, Santa Cruz
• Diego Alejandro Barboza Zeballos, former Director, Financial Investigations Unit
• Aldo Ismael Quezada Cerruti, President of the Departmental Tribunal of Justice of Santa Cruz
• Fernando Ronald Velasco Soliz, former Chief of Airport Security of the Special Force to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN) at Viru Viru International Airport
• Freddy Bismarck Pereira Molina, Departmental Police Commander of Tarija and former General Director of FELCN
• Oscar Mauricio Ortiz Cuellar, Santa Cruz Departmental Director, General Personal Identification Service (SEGIP)
• Katherine Calderon Valle, former Director General of Migration
• Jose Ayaviri Siles, former Criminal Court Judge
• Armando Rojas Toledo, former Coordinating Prosecutor of La Paz
• Rony Suarez Milliet, private citizen
• Julio Nelson Alba Flores, Judge, Departmental Tribunal of Justice of Santa Cruz

Why is this happening?

The State Department described the action as an expansion of its campaign against corruption and narcotrafficking in the region. It said the Trump Administration stands with the government of Bolivia as it works to remove criminal influence, including from its courts, police forces and legislature.

What this means for travellers

The restrictions apply to the named individuals and their immediate family members. The announcement does not state any change to U.S. visa rules, fees or application procedures for Bolivian travellers in general. It also does not say whether any visas already held by those listed have been cancelled, nor does it give an application or appeal process.

The statement sets out no dates for any further action and gives no deadline for those affected.