U.S. imposes visa bans on heads of two Uzbek travel firms for facilitating illegal immigration

According to a press statement released on February 19, 2026, by Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the Department of State, these companies deliberately organized travel services for foreign nationals, including minors, intending to enter the United States illegally.

Investigations revealed that the targeted individuals actively managed the transportation of migrants through various international airports and land borders. These networks typically directed individuals to transit points in Central America, a region frequently used by smuggling operations as a gateway for unauthorized entry into the United States.

Many of those transported by these companies were later apprehended by U.S. authorities while attempting to cross the border. The State Department emphasized that these actions are being taken under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows for the denial of entry to foreign nationals whose presence could have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the U.S.

The US government reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward entities that profit from the exploitation of migrants or the undermining of national security.

"The United States will not tolerate any attempts to undermine our national security or immigration laws," the statement read. "The Department will ensure those who profit from illegal immigration face consequences, and we will aggressively target smuggling networks to protect our borders and national security."

While the names of the two companies and their officials have not been publicly disclosed, the U.S. Department of State expressed its "deep appreciation" to the Government of Uzbekistan for its close cooperation in this matter. The collaborative effort was instrumental in identifying and shutting down the criminal networks facilitating these illegal routes.