Bolivian Attorney General Roger Mariaca rejected the revocation of his visa by the United States and denounced foreign interference, attributing the measure to the Public Ministry’s investigations into sensitive cases.
From Sucre, seat of the Public Ministry, and accompanied by officials of the institution, Mariaca said on Moday that the decisions adopted by Washington took local authorities by surprise and demanded respect for Bolivia’s sovereignty and the principle of non-interference. He maintained that the Prosecutor’s Office’s work causes discomfort in political sectors both national and international, but stressed that no pressure will prevent investigating facts that must be clarified.
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Referring specifically to the Cerimedo case, in which an attempted femicide and money laundering are being investigated, Mariaca said it has generated concern in various spheres, but confirmed he will not back down “even a centimeter.” He recalled historical precedents of diplomatic friction such as the suspension of former President Jaime Paz Zamora’s visa and the expulsion of a U.S. ambassador during Evo Morales’s administration, noting that these episodes demonstrate that sovereignty must be above political circumstances.
Under the Trump Administration, corrupt foreign officials can no longer freely enter the United States. We are publicly designating the Attorney General of Bolivia, Roger Mariaca, for taking bribes from narcotraffickers to help them evade justice. The Department is also taking…
— US Dept of State INL (@StateINL) September 28, 2026
Faced with the sanctions announced Monday by Donald Trump’s government, which revoked the visas of 13 Bolivian officials and former officials — plus a businessman — under allegations of corruption and of undermining democratically elected governments, Bolivia’s Legislative Branch requested the intervention of the Foreign Ministry. Senate President Diego Ávila and Chamber of Deputies President Roberto Castro announced a formal request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to manage, through diplomatic channels, the official information available on these allegations before the U.S. State Department.
Ávila reported that Vice President and head of the Legislative Branch Edmand Lara was asked to urgently convene a parliamentary session to address the matter, and suggested the attorney general temporarily step aside from his duties while the accusations are clarified, as a measure to safeguard democratic institutions and the transparency of the investigations.
Castro indicated that once the information is received from Washington, it will be forwarded to the competent bodies to determine the relevant legal and parliamentary actions. He specified that if crimes are proven, responsibilities and sanctions must be established by law, while if the allegations lack foundation, it will be necessary to clarify it before the country.
The Shield of the Americas isn’t just words – it’s a coalition that takes action. Today, @StateDept is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on corrupt actors in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru who undermine democratically elected governments. This includes designating…
— Tommy Pigott (@statedeptspox) September 28, 2026
The measure announced by the U.S. Department of State restricts entry into that country for the affected citizens and their immediate family members, relying on Section 212(a)(3)© of the Immigration and Nationality Act. According to the official statement from Washington, Mariaca’s actions “endanger President Trump’s efforts to combat narcoterrorism while undermining the very democratic institutions Bolivia, as a Shield participant, is working to strengthen.”
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