The United States on Thursday announced new sanctions against senior officials of an Uzbek visa facilitation company, accusing them of playing a key role in an illegal immigration network that helped migrants unlawfully reach the US.
In an official statement, the United States Department of State said it had imposed visa restrictions on individuals in Uzbekistan who were “knowingly facilitating illegal immigration” into the United States.
The sanctions target executives and senior officials of two visa facilitation companies operating in the Central Asian country, although the companies were not publicly named.
According to Washington, the firms provided travel and logistical services that enabled migrants to move through international airports and cross borders to transit hubs in Central America. From there, many allegedly attempted to enter the United States illegally.
The State Department emphasized that the US would not tolerate efforts to undermine its immigration system or threaten national security. Officials said the visa restrictions are part of broader enforcement measures aimed at dismantling networks that profit from illegal migration.
The announcement came at a sensitive moment, as Shavkat Mirziyoyev was in Washington attending the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s newly formed “Board of Peace Council”.
While no direct link was made between the sanctions and the Uzbek president’s visit, the timing highlighted Washington’s stance on immigration enforcement, even as it engages diplomatically with foreign leaders.
US officials reiterated that individuals and organizations involved in facilitating illegal migration would face consequences, regardless of their location or political context.
