U.S. unveils new policies to ban entry over unjust detentions

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department has unveiled new policies to ban entry to those who commit abuses against detained individuals.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the new punitive measures in a statement Tuesday, saying they "promote accountability for wrongful, abusive and unjust detention practices around the world."

The new policies arm the State Department with the ability to impose visa restrictions on anyone who detains people for an illegitimate purpose, provides disparate treatment based on the detainee's nationality or violates a detainee's freedoms.

The restrictions can also be applied to family members, officials said.

"Human beings should never be used as bargaining chips or be subjected to abusive or unjust detention practices," Blinken said.

"Such acts are an affront to the human rights of those detained and to their basic humanity."

Since taking office in January 2021, the Biden administration has secured the release of more than 50 Americans detained under unjust circumstances.