Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced new visa restrictions on foreign authorities who are found to be “complicit” in censoring Americans. 

“For too long, Americans have been fined, harassed, and even charged by foreign authorities for exercising their free speech rights,” Rubio wrote in a post on X.

“Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to foreign officials and persons who are complicit in censoring Americans. Free speech is essential to the American way of life – a birthright over which foreign governments have no authority,” he added.

The announcement comes after the State Department announced sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who cut off Brazilians’ access to Twitter over Elon Musk’s refusal to censor alleged right-wing “disinformation.” State Department officials also traveled this week to France to raise concerns over the country’s decision to ban Marine Le Pen from the presidential race and to Ireland, where they pushed back against the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which EU officials to censor American social media companies and users.

Under the State Department’s new policy, Moraes and EU officials involved in overseeing the DSA could be barred receiving U.S. visas, along with members of their immediate families.

Rubio went on to say that foreigners who “work to undermine the rights of Americans should not enjoy the privilege of traveling to our country.”  

“Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over.”

The announcement comes as the administration also considers an expanded social media screening requirement for student visas

Rubio ordered diplomatic posts on Tuesday to pause applicant interviews for “any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M, and J) visa appointment capacity,” according to an internal cable obtained by Politico.

“Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor … visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued [separate telegram], which we anticipate in the coming days,” the cable read.

Applicants could be subject to expanded social media checks in the coming days to weed out “antisemitic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals.”

“We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country. And we’re going to continue to do that …  and again, whether they be student[s] or if you’re a tourist who needs a visa, or whoever you are, we’re going to be looking at you,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. “It seems to be such a controversial thing that’s going on, but it shouldn’t be, and every nation should take seriously, and does, who’s coming in. So if you’re going to be applying for a visa, follow the normal process, the normal steps, expect to be looked at and we go on from there.”