The United States has imposed visa restrictions on more than 100 Nicaraguan officials and their family members following the death of Indigenous leader Brooklyn Rivera while in government custody. The move, announced on Monday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, escalates existing sanctions against Nicaragua.

Rivera's death, announced on May 31, has drawn international condemnation and renewed scrutiny of the human rights record of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo. The U.S. administration views Rivera as a "political prisoner" and the sanctions are intended to target those complicit in the government's alleged suppression of dissent.

Secretary Rubio described the circumstances of Rivera's death as "horrific" and stated that the U.S. government has now imposed visa restrictions on over 2,350 Nicaraguan officials and their family members. These actions are part of a broader campaign by successive U.S. administrations to pressure the Nicaraguan government over its treatment of perceived dissidents, which has included imprisonment, forced exile, and the stripping of citizenship.

The latest sanctions underscore the U.S. government's deepening concern over human rights in Nicaragua, particularly in the wake of Rivera's death. The measures signal a continued U.S. commitment to holding Nicaraguan officials accountable for alleged abuses.

Rivera, 73, had been held in government custody since September 2023 with limited contact with the outside world. His death followed the release of government photos showing him in a hospital bed, intubated. These images prompted outrage from his family and the international community, who had demanded access to him and proof of his well-being.

Rivera's daughter, Tininiska Rivera, had previously denounced the "undignified, inhumane and degrading conditions" of his detention. She stated that her father was in "optimal health" when taken into custody and that the government could not attribute his deterioration to pre-existing conditions.

The Nicaraguan government announced Rivera's death, citing organ failure. This announcement further intensified the international outcry and calls for an independent investigation into the events surrounding his detention and demise.

UN experts have also called for an independent investigation into Rivera's death, highlighting a "broad pattern of violations" within Nicaragua. The situation continues to be a focal point for international human rights organizations monitoring the country.