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Dan Gooding is a Newsweek reporter based in New York City. His focus is reporting on immigration and border security. He has covered immigration issues extensively, including the root causes of migration to the U.S., its impact on border communities and responses around the country. Dan joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent and previously worked at The Messenger, Business Insider and in U.K. local radio. He is a graduate of De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. You can get in touch with Dan by emailing [email protected]. You can find him on X @DanGooding. Languages: English.

Politics Reporter

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Thursday that the United States will implement new visa restrictions on "family members and close personal and business associates" of people who have been sanctioned under President Donald Trump's executive order cracking down on drug cartels and trafficking.

"We will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs from entering our country," Rubio wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Why It Matters

Trump returned to the White House in January promising to crack down on border security and stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., particularly across the southwest border with Mexico.

It's unlikely that those smuggling drugs into the country have U.S. visas. But placing restrictions on their connections adds to ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to hamper their business dealings.

The move to restrict legal entry of those connected to known drug traffickers will likely have an impact on those individuals, but studies have shown that illicit fentanyl is often brought across the border by American citizens.

What To Know

The State Department posted Rubio's full statement to its website, which said the visa restrictions will be implemented through the Immigration and Nationality Act.

"Today's action expands upon existing tools, including sanctions pursuant to E.O. 14059 and visa ineligibilities pursuant to section 212(a)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for controlled substance traffickers," Rubio's statement said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. Alex Brandon/AP

It was not immediately clear how, or which, visas would be restricted, but the secretary of state has taken on a more prominent role in immigration enforcement alongside Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

The State Department manages visa applications through U.S. embassies and consulates around the world, with department employees determining cases before an individual can travel to the U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for determining immigration status once the person reaches American soil, whether at an airport or port of entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, both of which are housed within DHS, adjudicate applications within the country, like green card applications.

What People Are Saying

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement: "Imposing visa restrictions on drug traffickers, their family members, and close personal and business associates will not only prevent them from entering the United States, but it will serve as a deterrent for continued illicit activities.

"The U.S. Department of State will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs from entering the United States and harming U.S. citizens."

What Happens Next

The Trump administration will likely continue announcing policies that it says will aid in its multi-pronged approach to curbing fentanyl trafficking.

Update 6/26/25, 3:56 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.