U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on 32 Individuals Linked to Cybercrime

Why it matters locally: The imposition of visa restrictions on individuals involved in cybercrime, particularly those linked to transnational criminal organizations, can help reduce the financial fraud that affects New York residents and businesses, who are often targets of such scams.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of State announced new visa restrictions today, September 21, 2026, targeting 32 individuals. These individuals are implicated in defrauding Americans through cybercrime and cyber-enabled criminal activities. Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, Spokesman for the Office of the Spokesman, stated that a majority of the individuals are affiliated with the Prince Group. The U.S. government previously identified this transnational criminal organization (TCO) as responsible for defrauding American citizens. The Department of State initiated this action under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Any valid visas held by these 32 individuals have been revoked. Cybercriminals annually defraud Americans of tens of billions of dollars. In 2025 alone, TCOs operating in Southeast Asia, including the Prince Group, reportedly defrauded Americans of at least $18.2 billion through cyber-enabled scams. The Department of the Treasury has also taken measures against the Prince Group. In October 2025, the Treasury sanctioned 146 members and affiliates of the organization. The Department added 35 more individuals to this list in June 2026. The U.S. government maintains that those complicit in these activities will face denial of entry into the United States.