U.S. asylum and visa policy shifts in Latin America

U.S. immigration and asylum policies have undergone significant scrutiny and legal shifts regarding political activists from Latin America.

U.S. officials have taken direct action against Colombian activists, citing asylum system abuse. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described the system as saturated with ‘frivolous’ and ‘fraudulent’ requests, citing the deportation of Humberto ‘Beto’ Coral as a ‘perfect example’ of such abuse. Additionally, the Department of State revoked the visa of Colombian activist Viviana Marín following her calls to make Colombia ‘unlivable’ after the election of President Abelardo de la Espriella, asserting that the U.S. does not welcome those seeking opposition through ‘violence or intimidation.’

Concurrently, the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has established a new precedent for evaluating asylum claims related to Venezuela. Following the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power in January 2026, the BIA ruled that immigration judges must consider recent political shifts when assessing claims of persecution. While a change in leadership does not automatically negate a fear of persecution, judges are now required to conduct case-by-case analyses to determine if applicants still face concrete threats from specific institutions, even under the acting presidency of Delcy Rodríguez.