WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. State Department announced Tuesday it would bar entry to five Europeans accused of leading efforts to pressure U.S. technology companies to censor or suppress American views.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not name the individuals he said were violating new visa policies announced in May that restrict entry to foreigners deemed responsible for protected speech in the United States. He sees them only as “radical” activists and “weaponized” NGOs.
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The five Europeans were later identified by Sarah Rogers, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, in a series of posts on social media. They include former EU commissioners and leaders of organizations tackling digital hate.
Rubio’s statement said they advance foreign government censorship campaigns against Americans and U.S. companies, which he said has “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the United States.
The move to bar them from entering the United States is part of the Trump administration’s campaign to counter foreign influence on online speech, using immigration laws rather than platform regulations or sanctions.
The five people named by Rogers are: Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center to Combat Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of the German organization HateAid; former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who is responsible for digital affairs; and Clare Melford, who manages the Global Disinformation Index.
Targeted individuals are typically barred from entering the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and some may face deportation proceedings if they are already in the United States. Officials said the government may expand the list if similar foreign actions continue.
Most Europeans are covered by the Visa Waiver Program, which means they don’t necessarily need a visa to enter the country. However, a U.S. official said they did need to complete an online application under a system run by the Department of Homeland Security before arriving, so at least some of the five may have been flagged for DHS. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been publicly released.
Other visa restrictions were announced this year, as well as bans on foreign visitors from certain African and Middle Eastern countries, as well as the Palestinian Authority. Visitors from certain countries may be required to pay a financial deposit when applying for a visa.
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AP Diplomacy Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
