Phnom Penh on Wednesday voiced regret about a U.S. decision to stop issuing visas to senior Cambodian foreign ministry officials and their families, urging Washington to reconsider the policy and offering to send a delegation to discuss the cases of 26 nationals whom the United States wants to repatriate.

The U.S. action -- which also covered Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Guinea -- stems from a law under which convicted felons of foreign nationality are deported after they have served their prison sentences.

Cambodia under a 2002 agreement with the United States has accepted the repatriation of about 500 such returnees, with another 1,000 slated for a similar fate.

In April, however, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the United States to end its practice of forcibly repatriating convicts to the Southeast Asian nation, a policy he said "splits up families of our Cambodian people.”

"Cambodia regrets that the government of the United States decided to place Cambodia on its list of 'non-cooperative' countries," the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

It called the U.S. decision "not in conformity with the spirit of good cooperation on the repatriation program between the two countries" and said that Cambodian calls to renegotiate the 2002 agreement did not mean it had terminated cooperation.

Cambodia is willing to dispatch a delegation the United States to interview 26 "remaining individuals" raised in recent discussions in Phnom Penh, it said, without elaborating.

"The ministry anticipates that the government of the United States would reconsider its above-said decision in order to promote friendly relations and good cooperation between the two countries," it said.

Cambodian political commentator Meas Ny told RFA's Khmer Service the U.S. policy reflects increasing tensions between Washington and Phnom Penh and will "truly affect senior ranking government officials as they are banned from traveling to visit their families there."

"Most of them have their families, spouses, children or residences in the U.S. Therefore, when the visa is banned they cannot travel to or enter the U.S., and in particular these officials will find it hard to attend any meetings or to serve diplomatic purposes in the U.S.” he said.

The U.S. and other Western countries have condemned Hun Sen's spiraling crackdown on the political opposition and civil society, including the Sept. 3 arrest of Cambodia National Rescue Party President Kem Sokha, ahead of 2018 parliamentary elections.

By Moniroth Morm, Sovannarith Keo and Chandara Yang for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Paul Eckert.</s>The United States will stop issuing certain visas to Eritrean nationals and Guinean officials as of Wednesday, the embassies in those countries announced Tuesday.

The new restrictions are aimed at four Asian and African nations that have refused to take back citizens who've been deported. Under federal law, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson can stop all or specific types of visas from being issued to such nations.

The U.S. Embassy in Eritrea said in a statement that it will stop issuing business and tourism visas to Eritrean nationals, with "limited exceptions." Eritrean officials were not immediately available for comment.

The East African nation is a major source of migrants who say they are fleeing a system of forced military conscription that repeatedly has been criticized by the United Nations and human rights groups.

In the West African nation of Guinea, a U.S. Embassy statement said the new restrictions on business, tourism and student visas affect only government officials and immediate family members.

Cambodia and Sierra Leone also are expected to be affected by the visa restrictions, though there was no statement on those embassy websites Tuesday night.

U.S. officials first discussed the visa restrictions last month. The Department of Homeland Security said it had recommended the State Department take action against four nations out of a dozen it considers recalcitrant. Neither department would identify the nations by name.

It is not clear why only Cambodia, Eritrea and Guinea were selected for the sanctions or why Sierra Leone, which was last identified as "at risk" for recalcitrance, was included.

The State Department traditionally has been reluctant to impose visa sanctions because affected countries often retaliate through reciprocal restrictions on U.S. citizens and officials. The measures have only been imposed twice before, against Guyana and Gambia.

Other countries listed as being recalcitrant in accepting deportees from the U.S. include China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Iran, Burma, Morocco and South Sudan.</s>ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The United States will stop issuing certain visas to Eritrean nationals and officials of Cambodia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as of Wednesday because they have refused to take back deported citizens, the State Department said Tuesday.

Under federal law, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson can stop all or specific types of visas from being issued to such nations.

The State Department traditionally has been reluctant to impose visa sanctions because affected countries often retaliate through reciprocal restrictions on U.S. citizens and officials. The measures have only been imposed twice before, against Guyana and Gambia.

The U.S. Embassy in Eritrea said in a statement that it will stop issuing business and tourism visas to Eritrean nationals, with "limited exceptions." Eritrean officials were not immediately available for comment.

The East African nation is a major source of migrants who say they are fleeing a system of forced military conscription that repeatedly has been criticized by the United Nations and human rights groups.

In the West African nation of Guinea, a U.S. Embassy statement said the new restrictions on business, tourism and student visas affect only government officials and their immediate family members.

In Cambodia, restrictions on business and tourism visas will affect foreign ministry officials with the post of director-general and above, along with their families.

In Sierra Leone, restrictions on business and tourism visas will affect foreign ministry and immigration officials. The West African nation is currently recovering from recent mudslides in the capital that killed several hundred people.

Nationals of Sierra Leone and Guinea had been considered an exception to deportation during the Ebola crisis and its aftermath. That temporary protection status expired in May of this year.

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert confirmed that the restrictions have been imposed in all four countries, effective Wednesday. Tillerson sent a cable to all embassies on Tuesday ordering the changes.

U.S. officials first discussed the visa restrictions last month. The Department of Homeland Security said it had recommended the State Department take action against four nations out of a dozen it considers recalcitrant. Neither department would identify the nations by name at the time.

It is not clear why only Cambodia, Eritrea and Guinea were selected for the sanctions or why Sierra Leone, which was last identified as "at risk" for recalcitrance, was included.

Other countries listed as being recalcitrant in accepting deportees from the U.S. include China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Iran, Burma, Morocco and South Sudan.</s>FREETOWN, Sierra Leone — Sierra Leone’s government says it will accept 27 of its citizens being deported from the United States because of various crimes.

The move comes as President Donald Trump’s administration places visa restrictions on four African and Asian nations that have refused to accept citizens deported from the U.S.

Foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Turay on Wednesday told a local radio station that Sierra Leone’s embassy in Washington will issue emergency travel certificates for the 27 citizens. He says they have been identified as being involved in various crimes in the U.S., including drug offences.

The new U.S. restrictions on business and tourism visas will affect foreign ministry and immigration officials in the West African nation.

The new restrictions also affect nationals or certain officials in Eritrea, Guinea and Cambodia.</s>ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The United States says it will stop issuing business and tourism visas to Eritrean nationals as of Wednesday.

The new restrictions are aimed at four Asian and African nations that have refused to take back citizens who've been deported.

The U.S. Embassy in Eritrea says in a statement that there will be "limited exceptions." Eritrean officials were not immediately available for comment.

The East African nation is a major source of migrants who say they are fleeing forced military conscription.

In the West African nation of Guinea, a U.S. Embassy statement says the new restrictions on business, tourism and student visas affect only government officials and immediate family members.

Cambodia and Sierra Leone also are expected to be affected, though there was no statement on those embassy Tuesday night.</s>PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia on Wednesday stopped issuing visas to senior Cambodian foreign ministry officials and their families, an action initiated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It said the suspension was implemented under U.S. immigration law in response to Cambodia’s refusal to accept back its nationals whom the U.S. wants to repatriate.

U.S. law calls for deporting convicted felons of foreign nationality — including those with U.S. permanent resident status — after they have served their prison sentences. Cambodia under a 2002 agreement with the United States has accepted the repatriation of about 500 such returnees. An estimated 1,000 more have yet to be sent back.

Cambodia recently has not accepted such people, and Prime Minister Hun Sen said earlier this year he wished to amend the agreement because it broke up Cambodian-American families.

The United States on Wednesday took similar actions toward Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Sierra Leone’s government said the same day it would accept the 27 of its citizens being deported.</s>U.S. Government Suspends B1/B2 Visas to Sierra Leone Ministry of Foreign Affairs Officials and Immigration Officials

On Thursday, September 13, the United States Embassy in Freetown, Sierra Leone will discontinue the issuance of B visas (temporary visitors for business or pleasure) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and immigration officials.

 Consular operations at the U.S. embassy or consulate will continue. These visa restrictions do not affect other consular services provided, including adjudication of applications from individuals not covered by the suspension.

 The Department of State received notification under Section 243(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act from the Department of Homeland Security for Eritrea, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia.

 According to that section of the law, when a country denies or unreasonably delays accepting one of its nationals, the Secretary of Homeland Security may notify the Secretary of State. The Secretary must then order consular officers in that country to discontinue issuance of any or all visas. The Secretary determines the categories of applicants subject to the visa restrictions. The Department of State may change the covered visa categories at any time. Visa suspensions may include any categories of visa applicants, as determined by the Department on a country-by-country basis.

 The Secretary of State has ordered consular officers in Eritrea, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia to implement visa restrictions effective September 13, 2017. The Secretary determined the categories of visa applicants subject to these restrictions on a country-by-country basis. For Sierra Leone, this restriction applies to the issuance of B visas (temporary visitors for business or pleasure) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and immigration officials.

 # # #</s>The US State Department said it will stop issuing certain kinds of visas to citizens of Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea and Sierra Leone, because of their refusal to take back deported citizens.

The new policy was laid out in State Department cables by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert confirmed the restrictions have been imposed in all four countries effective Wednesday, according to AP.

The restrictions were first discussed by US officials last month, after the Department of Homeland Security recommended the State Department take action against the four nations for their refusal to cooperate with the Trump administration’s immigration policy.

In its announcement about the visa sanctions, DHS said the four countries had not been reliable in issuing travel documents for their citizens. For this reason, “ICE has been forced to release into the United States approximately 2,137 Guinean and 831 Sierra Leone nationals, many with criminal convictions.”

DHS said there are approximately 700 Eritrean nationals residing in the US with final orders of removal. More than 1,900 Cambodian nationals are also subject to final order of removal, of those 1,412 have criminal convictions.

For Cambodians, restrictions on business and tourism will only affect foreign ministry officials with the post of director-general and above, along with their families.

The US Embassy in Eritrea will stop issuing business and tourism visas to Eritrean nationals, with “limited exceptions,” it said in a statement.

The West African nation of Guinea said the new restrictions on business, tourism and student visas will affect only government officials and immediate family members.

“We are all surprised by the American authorities’ decision by the American authorities’ decision but the foreign minister is at this moment working so that the situation returns to normal,” Guinea government spokesman Damantang Albert Camara told Reuters.

In Sierra Leone, restrictions on business and tourism visas will affect foreign ministry and immigration officials.

Visas already granted are not affected by the new rules.

READ MORE: 'In the national interest': Trump extends Cuba embargo for 1 year

There are a dozen other countries, among them China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Iran, Burma, Morocco and South Sudan, listed as being recalcitrant over accepting deportees. Federal law allows the State Department to stop all or specific types of visas from being issued to such nations.

The most recent instance was in October 2016, when the Obama administration stopped issuing visas to Gambian government officials and their families, because the government was not taking back US deportees from the Gambia.</s>Finally, some reciprocity rather than leaning over like Obama saying, “Thank you sir, may I have another?”

The Trump administration announced Wednesday it has ordered the State Department to limit certain visas for Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea, and Sierra Leone because those countries have refused to accept the return of their nationals who are deported from the United States.

“International law obligates each country to accept the return of its nationals ordered removed from the United States,” Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke said in a statement. “Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea, and Sierra Leone have failed in that responsibility. The United States itself routinely cooperates with foreign governments in documenting and accepting its citizens when asked, as do the majority of countries in the world. However, these countries have failed to do so, and that one-way street ends with these sanctions.”</s>The U.S. State Department on Wednesday will stop issuing certain kinds of visas to some citizens of Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea and Sierra Leone because the nations are not taking back their citizens the United States wants to deport.

WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department on Wednesday will stop issuing certain kinds of visas to some citizens of Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea and Sierra Leone because the nations are not taking back their citizens the United States wants to deport.

The new policies, laid out in State Department cables sent on Tuesday and reviewed by Reuters, are the latest example of U.S. President Donald Trump's effort to crack down on immigrants who are in the United States illegally.

The cables, sent by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to consular officials around the world, said the four countries were "denying or unreasonably delaying" the return of their citizens from the United States, and that visa restrictions would be lifted in a country if it accepted its deportees.

The State Department declined comment on the cables, saying it would not discuss internal communications.

The visa sanctions vary in severity, with Eritrea facing the harshest sanctions. Any Eritreans who apply in their own country for most U.S. business or tourist visas to the United States will be rejected, according to one of the cables.

In Guinea, the United States will no longer issue a range of tourist, business and student visas to government officials and their immediate family members who apply from inside the country, another cable said.

In Cambodia, the sanction is tailored. Only Foreign Ministry employees at or above the rank of director general, and their families, who apply inside the country will be barred from getting some visas for personal travel, a third cable said.

For Sierra Leone, only Foreign Ministry and immigration officials will be denied tourist and business visas at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown, according to a fourth cable.

In each case, there are exceptions for citizens of the four nations who apply for visas from outside their countries, as well as exceptions on humanitarian grounds or for travel "deemed in the interest of the United States."

The new rules, which go into effect on Wednesday, do not affect visas that already have been granted.

Visa sanctions are allowed by U.S. immigration law to punish countries that refuse to accept their citizens back from the United States. In practice, the United States has rarely taken that step - just twice in the past decade and a half, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesman.

The most recent instance was in October 2016 when the Obama administration stopped issuing visas to Gambian government officials and their families because the government was not taking back U.S. deportees from Gambia.

Three of the four countries included in the current visa restrictions - Cambodia, Guinea, and Eritrea - were on a July list of nations deemed "recalcitrant" by U.S. immigration authorities. It was unclear immediately why Sierra Leone was included in Tuesday's action even though it was not on the "recalcitrant" list in July.

Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke sent a letter to the State Department last month identifying the four countries as ones that could face penalties.

DHS officials say in some cases, the agency has had no choice but to release convicted criminals who served prison time but could not be returned to their home country because it refused to take them back.

The Trump administration has made it a priority to pressure reluctant countries to take back their citizens. As of July, the 12 nations deemed "recalcitrant" were China, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, Iran, Cambodia, Burma, Morocco, Hong Kong, South Sudan, Guinea and Eritrea.

According to 2016 congressional testimony by Michele Bond, former assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, Cuba was the "most recalcitrant country on repatriation of its nationals," although she did not give numbers.

Other countries then at the top of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) list of recalcitrant countries were China, Somalia and India, Bond said at the time. None of those countries are facing visa sanctions.
The United States stops giving out visas to high ranking officials of Cambodia, Eritrea, Guinea and Sierra Leone for failing to accept deportations.