U.S. announces visa curbs targeting South Africa foreign nationals for ‘race-based discrimination’

Secretary of State Marco ​Rubio said on Tuesday (September 15, 2026) ⁠the U.S. government was announcing a new visa restriction ‌policy targeting some foreign nationals ‌in South Africa.

The policy ‌targets “foreign ⁠nationals who are ⁠responsible for, or complicit in, the enactment or implementation of ​laws or policies ‌that enable uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, and/or the incitement of ‌imminent violence against members ​of minority ethnic or racial groups ⁠in South Africa,” Mr. Rubio said in a statement.

“The ‌South African government has not adequately addressed the previously laid out concerns,” Mr. Rubio said.

Relations between Washington and ‌Pretoria have soured since the ​start of Donald Trump’s second term, ⁠with the U.S. president criticizing ⁠the country for its policies aimed ‌at addressing racial inequality.