Washington, DC - The political violence by police and pro-government thugs against the people of Nicaragua, particularly university students, shows a blatant disregard for human rights and is unacceptable. Secretary Mike Pompeo today decided to impose U.S. visa restrictions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses or undermining democracy in Nicaragua.

Affected individuals include National Police officials, municipal government officials, and a Ministry of Health official – specifically those directing or overseeing violence against others exercising their rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, thereby undermining Nicaragua’s democracy. These officials have operated with impunity across the country, including in Managua, León, Estelí, and Matagalpa. In certain circumstances, family members of those individuals will also be subject to visa restrictions.

We will not publicly identify these individuals due to U.S. visa confidentiality laws, but we are sending a clear message that human rights abusers and those who undermine democracy are not welcome in the United States.

We emphasize the action we are announcing today is specific to certain officials and not directed at the Nicaraguan people. We will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps as necessary. The United States continues to call for an end to violence and supports peaceful negotiations to end this crisis.