Foreign officials who enable the forced return of Uyghurs and other ethnic or religious groups to China face visa restrictions in the United States, Sec. of State Marco Rubio announced Friday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio rolled out a new visa restriction policy today, targeting foreign officials who orchestrate or abet the forced return of Uyghurs and other vulnerable ethnic or religious groups to China.

The United States has imposed visa restrictions on Thai officials following the repatriation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China on February 27, 2025. The decision, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio,

The Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), a Uyghur advocacy group, has praised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for imposing visa restrictions on Thai officials involved in the forced repatriation of 40 Uyghurs to China.

Rubio says visa restrictions imposed on current, former Thai officials linked to deportation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China on Feb. 27 - Anadolu Ajansı

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand acted in accordance with human rights when it sent 40 Uyghurs back to China last week, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra told reporters on Monday. "We actually did everything correctly on human rights," she said.

The State Department said it was “combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on Friday against officials from Thailand, a U.S. ally, for their role in deporting at least 40 Uyghurs to China, where Washington says the members of the Muslim group will face persecution.