Tegucigalpa – The United States Department of State announced on Friday, December 19, 2025, visa restrictions targeting senior Honduran electoral officials accused of undermining democracy by impeding the ongoing vote count in the country's November 30, 2025, presidential election. The measures, detailed in an official statement, include the revocation of the visa held by Mario Morazán (also spelled Morazan), presiding magistrate of Honduras' Electoral Justice Tribunal, and the denial of a visa application submitted by Marlon Ochoa, a member of the National Electoral Council (CNE).
Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the actions, stating that the Department has also initiated steps to impose restrictions on an additional unnamed individual under similar grounds. These sanctions are invoked pursuant to Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for visa revocation and Section 212(a)(3)(C) for broader inadmissibility due to potential adverse effects on U.S. foreign policy.
"The United States will not tolerate actions that undermine our national security and our region’s stability," the statement read. "We will consider all appropriate measures to deter those impeding the vote count in Honduras."
Morazán and Ochoa, both affiliated with the leftist ruling Liberty and Refoundation (LIBRE) party, have not publicly responded to the sanctions. The restrictions bar them from entering the United States and reflect Washington's escalating involvement in Honduras' electoral crisis.
The November 30 general elections featured a tight three-way presidential race between conservative National Party candidate Nasry "Tito" Asfura, center-right Liberal Party contender Salvador Nasralla, and LIBRE's Rixi Moncada. Preliminary results showed Asfura with a narrow lead of approximately 43,000 votes over Nasralla, with Moncada trailing in third.
Due to the close margin and reports of inconsistencies in thousands of ballot boxes, the CNE initiated a special manual recount of 2,792 contested acts. However, the process has faced repeated delays, protests, technical failures, and allegations of fraud, leaving Hondurans without an official winner nearly three weeks after polling. The council has until December 30, 2025, to declare results, with the new president set to take office in late January 2026.
U.S. President Donald Trump has openly endorsed Asfura, warning of severe consequences if preliminary leads were overturned. This stance has drawn accusations of foreign interference from outgoing President Xiomara Castro and LIBRE supporters, who have protested what they term an "electoral coup." Protests have included road blockades and demonstrations outside electoral facilities, further stalling the recount.
The visa actions represent the latest in a series of U.S. interventions during the electoral cycle, including Trump's recent pardon of former President Juan Orlando Hernández, convicted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. Observers note the Trump administration's aggressive posture in Latin America, prioritizing anti-corruption and migration control while aligning with conservative figures.
Honduran officials and regional bodies, including the Organization of American States, have urged calm and respect for institutional processes. The sanctions underscore U.S. concerns over democratic backsliding in Central America, a region critical for migration flows and security cooperation.
As the recount resumes amid heightened tensions, the outcome remains uncertain, with potential for further unrest or international mediation.
