Foreign officials who enable the forced return of Uyghurs and other ethnic or religious groups to China face visa restrictions in the United States, Sec. of State Marco Rubio announced Friday.

The Department of State announced Friday that it imposed visa restrictions on Thai officials involved in the forced return of

The United States has launched a visa restriction policy targeting both current and former foreign officials involved in the forced repatriation of Uyghurs and other ethnic groups to China, starting with Thai government officials.

Rubio says visa restrictions imposed on current, former Thai officials linked to deportation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand to China on Feb. 27 - Anadolu Ajansı

The State Department said it was “combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on Friday against officials from Thailand, a U.S. ally, for their role in deporting at least 40 Uyghurs to China, where Washington says the members of the Muslim group will face persecution.

The US has imposed visa restrictions on current and former Thai officials who were involved in the forced repatriation of Uyghur Muslims, as part of a new policy to support groups subject to torture in China.

The Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), a Uyghur advocacy group, has praised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for imposing visa restrictions on Thai officials involved in the forced repatriation of 40 Uyghurs to China.