United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued on Wednesday a new visa restriction policy that targets foreign government officials who are believed to be "knowingly facilitating illegal immigration to the United States."

The new policy will apply to immigration and customs officials, airport and port authority officials, and others the US government finds implementing policies and practices that "knowingly facilitate the transit of aliens" into the country, as well as those who fail to enforce immigration laws.

"Countries along migratory routes must do their part to prevent and deter the transit of illegal aliens," Rubio said in a post on X. "America will not back down when it comes to defending its national security interest," he added.