The U.S. State Department has imposed visa restrictions on a Haitian government official for allegedly supporting gangs and other criminal organizations while obstructing the Caribbean nation's government in its fight against "terrorist gangs."

The State Department did not identify the individual, but said any visas held by the person will be revoked.

Why It Matters

The poorest country in the Americas, Haiti has long been plagued by political instability and violence, with heavily armed criminal gangs controlling large parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, committing murders, rapes and kidnappings.

U.S. visa actions are one of Washington’s few immediate tools that can be used to pressure Haitian elites accused of enabling gang activity, targeting individuals who provide financial or

See Full Page