Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced late Friday that the United States has revoked the visas of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, along with several of his judicial allies and their immediate family members. Rubio stated the move was in response to what he described as a “political witch hunt” targeting former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Rubio, who also serves as President Trump’s national security adviser, shared the decision on the social platform X. He said, “President Trump made clear that his administration will hold accountable foreign nationals responsible for censorship of protected expression in the United States.” Rubio further accused Moraes of orchestrating a campaign of persecution and censorship that, in his view, violates the rights of both Brazilians and Americans.

The visa revocations come amid heightened political tensions in Brazil. The Brazilian Supreme Court recently imposed strict measures against Bolsonaro, including barring him from contacting foreign officials, placing an ankle monitor on him, and conducting a police raid on his residence. Justice de Moraes claimed the actions were necessary to prevent Bolsonaro from fleeing the country while under investigation for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2022 election results.

In response, President Trump earlier threatened to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports if Bolsonaro’s prosecution continued. Bolsonaro, who has been banned from holding public office until 2030, maintains that the charges are politically motivated and intended to silence opposition to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration.

Meanwhile, in a separate diplomatic development, Venezuela released 10 U.S. citizens in a deal involving the repatriation of over 250 Venezuelan migrants detained in El Salvador. The three-nation agreement, involving Venezuela, El Salvador, and the U.S., was hailed as a diplomatic success. Rubio praised Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, calling the release “a major victory for American families.”