The United States has introduced visa restrictions targeting foreign officials from 14 countries that have been identified as failing to cooperate in the resolution of international parental child abduction cases. This move was announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 28, 2026. The restrictions will apply to foreign government officials, judges, judicial administrators, and law enforcement personnel who deliberately obstruct the return of abducted children to their country of habitual residence.
The 14 countries cited for noncompliance are Argentina, the Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Honduras, India, Jordan, the Republic of Korea, Peru, Poland, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates. Egypt is the only African nation on the list, having been cited for noncompliance multiple times since 2015. The US and Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2003 aimed at encouraging voluntary resolution of abduction cases, but Egyptian authorities have persistently failed to engage with the US Department of State.
Brazil tops the list in terms of duration, having been cited for 20 consecutive years. Brazilian authorities failed to enforce return orders, leaving 32% of cases unresolved for more than 12 months, with an average delay of three years and four months. India recorded the highest number of outstanding cases, with 90 unresolved cases involving 103 children at the end of 2025, and 71% of those cases open for more than a year.
Serbia appears on the list for the first time, while Egypt's record shows that it does not adhere to any international protocols governing parental child abduction. In 2025, 59% of cases involving Egypt remained unresolved for more than 12 months, and the US reported no abduction cases resolved by Egyptian judicial authorities that year. The US Department of State said it would continue engagement with all cited countries and could deploy additional measures available under the Goldman Act.
The restrictions are authorised under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Immediate family members of those individuals found to be obstructing abduction cases are also subject to the restrictions. The new policy could result in denial of US entry visas for Egyptian officials and their family members.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that protecting American children abducted across international borders and reuniting them with their parents is a top priority for the administration. He added that when foreign government officials, judges, judicial administrators, law enforcement officials, and others intentionally obstruct the prompt resolution of these cases, they prolong family separations and block the return of children to the United States.
The Department of State said it would continue to work with the cited countries to improve their compliance and could take further diplomatic action against governments that fail to improve their compliance. The US government aims to ensure that children abducted across international borders are reunited with their parents.
Key points
- The US has announced visa restrictions on officials from 14 countries for obstructing international parental child abduction cases.
- Egypt is the only African nation on the list, having been cited for noncompliance multiple times since 2015.
- The restrictions are authorised under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
