U.S. Introduces New Visa Restriction Policy for International Parental Child Abduction Cases

What changed

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a final rule. This rule changes immigration fees. It is through its Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). These changes are for the financial year 2027. They start on 1 October 2026. This is a required update due to inflation for fees under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). These fees cover documents like Notices of Appeal and various requests. The update makes sure the department follows legal rules.

What changed

The U.S. Department of Labour has issued a final rule. This rule cancels 29 CFR Part 42. Part 42 used to make formal procedures mandatory for agencies to coordinate enforcement efforts regarding migrant and seasonal farmworkers. This change takes effect from 30 September 2026. It aims to make operations more efficient by removing old rules. These old rules no longer match how the Department is organised or how it works. The Department says this change will make its enforcement strategy fit better with modern, flexible, and effective ways of coordinating that it already uses.

What changed

The U.S. State Department has set up a new policy for visa restrictions, starting straight away. This policy focuses on foreign nationals and their immediate family members who undermine democratically elected governments in the Western Hemisphere through corruption or drug trafficking. This rule is put into practice under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It also supports promises made at the Doral Summit and confirmed again in the Shield of the Americas leaders' statement. The policy allows the U.S. to quickly put visa restrictions in place. We've already seen this happen with actions against people from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, as well as the public naming of Bolivia's Attorney General, Roger Mariaca, for serious corruption.

What changed

On 23 September 2026, the U.S. State Department announced a new visa restriction policy, which took effect immediately. This policy falls under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It targets people who knowingly participate in, have participated in, or help with birth tourism to the United States. The goal is to stop people from exploiting the U.S. immigration system for money and to protect the value of U.S. citizenship.