The United States government announced on Tuesday a new visa restriction policy for those taking charter flights to Nicaragua that would be used by undocumented migrants seeking to reach the North American country.
In a press release, the State Department said the measure targets the owners, executives and officials of the companies operating the flights.
“In a growing trend, charter companies are offering flights (and charging extortionate prices) that take migrants on a dangerous overland route north toward the U.S. border,” the government agency said.
The State Department reiterated that many of the migrants traveling on these flights are returned to their country of origin because they lack the legal basis to enter or remain in the United States.
That’s why they’re calling on Haitian, Cuban and other migrants to seek “safe and legal” routes to migrate to the United States.
The U.S. government also said it is working with Latin American governments and the private sector to try to eliminate the practice on charter flights.
If you would like to learn more about legal ways to enter the United States, you can visit Movilidadsegura.org.