Some Venezuela officials are banned from traveling to the U.S.

The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that Venezuela government officials who have been involved in human rights abuses are no longer allowed to travel to the United States, a move that some Republican legislators say doesn’t go far enough.

The move comes as Venezuela, in recent months, has witnessed anti-government protests organized by demonstrators who are concerned about the country’s deteriorating economic, social and political conditions. The State Department said that in many instances, the Venezuelan government has responded to these protests with “arbitrary detentions and excessive use of force.”

“With this step we underscore our commitment to holding accountable individuals who commit human rights abuses,” State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement. “While we will not publicly identify these individuals because of visa record confidentiality, our message is clear: those who commit such abuses will not be welcome in the United States.”

SEE ALSO: Venezuela’s fight is far from over

For years now, Venezuela government officials have been accused of violating the human rights of the Venezuelan people. Members of Congress have supported legislation calling for sanctions against these government officials. But the U.S. has held back on issuing U.S. sanctions against Venezuelan leaders until now.

Why is that? Secretary of State John F. Kerry hinted in May that one explanation is that the Obama administration wanted to give Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro more time to reconcile with opposition leaders. Another possible explanation is that the Obama administration didn’t want Maduro to accuse the U.S. of meddling in Venezuela’s affairs.

In May, Maduro expressed opposition to a House bill that calls for sanctions against Venezuela. He said  through his radio and television show, “Any law approved by U.S. Congress to sanction Venezuela is illegitimate, and we won’t recognize it.”

More sanctions against Venezuela are needed

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), whose legislation calling for sanctions against Venezuela passed in the House in May, said denying visas to Venezuelan officials involved in human rights violations “is a good step forward.” However, she said the move “is long overdue and does not go far enough.”

“Not only should we deny visas to Maduro’s cronies but we should also expand those visa restrictions to immediate family members of human rights violators and freeze their assets and property in the U.S.,” Ros-Lehtinen said in a statement.

She added, “Only by hitting the thugs of the Maduro regime in their pocketbooks will there be a real opportunity to help foster a new era in Venezuela aimed to respect the rights of the Venezuelan people.”

SEE ALSO: House passes Venezuela sanctions bill to punish Maduro regime

Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who sponsored legislation to impose visa sanctions and asset freezes on Venezuelan officials responsible for human rights violations, echoed Ros-Lehtinen’s sentiment. Rubio welcomed the Obama administration’s announcement that it will impose visa bans on some Venezuela officials, but he insisted that more needed to be done.

“The U.S. government should use every tool at our disposal to hold the Maduro regime accountable for its human rights violations,” Rubio said in a statement. “The Obama Administration has taken an important first step by announcing visa bans that would restrict the travel of human rights violators and their families to the U.S. This action should be followed up with asset freezes as well.”

The Republican senator also encouraged the Senate to pass the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014, which would impose sanctions against Venezuelan leaders involved in human rights violations. Rubio introduced the bill with Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in March. He described it as “the most comprehensive plan that exists in the Senate to punish human rights violators and support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people.”

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