Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON D.C.: The US State Department has announced a new visa restriction policy, known as “Fallon Smart,” which targets foreign government officials and agents who have assisted fugitives in evading the US justice system.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the policy is named after a 15-year-old who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Oregon in 2016.

The foreign national accused of causing Smart’s death fled the US to avoid being tried for manslaughter, he added.

“The Department of State is committed to deterring and promoting accountability for extraordinary foreign government involvement in aiding fugitives to evade the US justice system,” Blinken said in the statement.

The Saudi man accused in Smart’s death likely fled the US with the assistance of the Saudi government, the Oregonian newspaper reported in 2018.

“Because visa records are confidential under US law, we cannot disclose the identities of individuals who are or may be subject to this policy,” a State Department spokesperson said in a statement.

In March, US Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said, after the State Department committed to revoking visas of foreign nationals assisting those evading prosecution or fleeing the US justice system, that he would lift his hold on the nominee to serve as US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Michael Ratney.
“Today’s announcement of the ‘Fallon Smart Policy’ enshrines in US policy the principle that there can be no room in America for foreign officials who help criminal suspects dodge the law,” noted Wyden.

“The loss of Fallon to her family and loved ones can never be erased, but this new State Department policy, named for this young Portlander killed by a foreign national, establishes genuine accountability for any foreign official who assists fugitives fleeing US justice,” he added.