The State Department said it was “combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China.”

The State Department on Friday announced sanctions on an unknown number of current and former Thai officials for their role in deporting at least 40 Uyghur men to China despite worries that they could be jailed or even face death there.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio rolled out a new visa restriction policy today, targeting foreign officials who orchestrate or abet the forced return of Uyghurs and other vulnerable ethnic or religious groups to China.