Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that former Argentine president Christina Fernandez de Kirchner and a former minister, Julio Miguel de Vido, are prohibited from visiting the US due to their involvement in “significant corruption”.
Rubio said that Kirchner and de Vidow “altered their position by adjusting multiple bribery schemes, including public works contracts, which earned financial benefits and mistreated their positions by stealing millions of dollars from the Argentine government”.
Several courts have found Kirby and de Vido guilty of corruption, undermining the trust of the Argentine people and investors in Argentina’s future.
By designation, Kirchner, de Vido, and their close relatives “generally cannot accommodate entry into the United States”.
Kirchner has been the president of Argentina since 2007-15, serving two consecutive terms.
In December 2022, Kirchner was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison for public office fraud and corruption schemes, and was ordered to pay a $1 billion fine.
The federal court of appeals endorsed her verdict. Kirchner denied any misconduct.
Rubio, along with seven other Republican senators, signed a February 2024 letter to former President Biden claiming that he misused sanctions on officials in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The United States will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for their personal interest,” Rubio said. “These designations reaffirm our commitment to combating global corruption, including at the highest levels of government.”
