Rubio announces new sanctions targeting families of foreign fentanyl traffickers and their networks

By lauraharris // 2025-06-30

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio introduced a visa restriction policy targeting not only drug traffickers but also their close family members and associates, aiming to disrupt global fentanyl networks.
The policy falls under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and builds on Executive Order 14059, expanding existing sanctions and ineligibilities for controlled substance traffickers.
The sanctions are intended to prevent traffickers and their enablers from entering the U.S. and to serve as a deterrent against further involvement in the illicit drug trade.
President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to fight fentanyl trafficking by deploying troops to the southern border, sanctioning cartel leaders and designating major cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a massive fentanyl bust in May and U.S. fentanyl seizures at the southern border have reportedly dropped 50 percent since the 2024 election – a sign of decreasing smuggling, according to the Center for Immigration Studies.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a new wave of sanctions that would curb the flow of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. to "deter and dismantle" international drug trafficking networks. "Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act that will apply to family members and close personal and business associates of individuals sanctioned under Executive Order 14059 Imposing Sanctions on Foreign Persons Involved in the Global Illicit Drug Trade (E.O. 14059). "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 said in a press release. The latest policy imposes visa restrictions not only on foreign drug traffickers but also on their close family members and key associates, both personal and business, effectively barring them from entering the United States. State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott echoed a similar statement during the press briefing that same day. Piggott stated that the policy "will not only prevent them from entering the United States but also 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," Rubio said in his closing statement.

Major seizures, border troops and a sharp drop in smuggling

Fentanyl, a powerful and often lethal drug, is frequently trafficked across the southern and northern U.S. borders by transnational criminal organizations. "The fentanyl crisis in the United States is unprecedented, with overdoses remaining the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 44. More than 40 percent of Americans reportedly know someone who has died from an opioid overdose, and in 2024 the United States averaged over 220 overdose deaths daily," Rubio said in a press release. (Related: Major U.S. cities are becoming fentanyl-infested cesspools as millions plunge into hopelessness and despair.) In line with this, President Donald Trump has taken aggressive action to deliver his promise to wage a "war" on fentanyl traffickers. For instance, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) revealed that the U.S. law enforcement seizures of fentanyl at and between southern border ports of entry have dropped by 50 percent since the November 2024 election. CIS stated that the decline is a key indicator that overall fentanyl smuggling is also decreasing. In May, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced one of the largest fentanyl busts in U.S. history. Authorities seized over 409 kilograms of fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilograms of fentanyl powder in a sweeping operation. In addition, agents confiscated 35 kilograms of methamphetamine, 7.5 kilograms of cocaine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin, $5 million in cash and 49 firearms. Sixteen suspects, including three women, were arrested. Bondi revealed that six of the men were in the country illegally. Back then, Trump promised stronger border security and harsher penalties for illegal drug smuggling. Now, he has been fulfilling those promises with his actions, backed by several federal data. Learn more about the fentanyl crisis gripping the U.S. at Addiction.news. Watch this video discussing the largest fentanyl bust in the history of the state of Michigan.

This video is from the Justin Barclay channel on Brighteon.com.

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Major seizures, border troops and a sharp drop in smuggling

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