Politics: Colombia
Key Facts
—Who. The State Department cancelled visas of Colombian political and business figures, including ex-Ecopetrol chief Ricardo Roa.
—What. It says it is expanding its campaign against corruption and drug trafficking in the region.
—How many. 21 Colombian citizens are affected, seven named so far; the measure also extends to family members.
—When. Announced on the afternoon of 22 October 2026, Colombia time.
—Status. A visa revocation is an administrative US decision, not a conviction.
—Prediction markets. Polymarket shows 15.0% for Gustavo Petro being charged in the US by 31 December 2026 (US$101,245 traded; 22 October 2026, 2:37 p.m. ET).
—As of. 22 October 2026, 18:40 GMT
The US State Department said on 22 October 2026 it cancelled the visas of Colombian political and business figures, including Ricardo Roa, former head of oil company Ecopetrol. For US readers it matters because Washington is using visa powers against officials in Colombia, and because Ecopetrol shares trade in New York.
The announcement came on the afternoon of 22 October, Colombia time, according to El Tiempo, El Espectador, Semana and Blu Radio. We found no text on the State Department website, so this account relies on those reports.
What We Know
The department said it is “expanding its campaign against corruption and drug trafficking” in the region, in our translation of the Spanish reports. El Espectador quotes it as targeting “foreign citizens who, through corruption or drug trafficking, undermine democratically elected governments”.
El Tiempo adds that the measure applies “regardless of political affiliation”. El Espectador counts 21 Colombian citizens affected and calls the story developing.
El Tiempo and Semana report that the measure also extends to family members. Semana says the action cites Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act.
That section allows a visa to be denied when a person’s entry could have adverse consequences for US foreign policy. Semana adds that the United States backs Colombia’s efforts to remove criminal influence from its courts, police and legislature.
A visa revocation is an administrative decision by the US government. It is not a conviction or a court finding, and each person named is presumed innocent.
In Plain English
State Department: It is the US foreign ministry, and it issues and cancels visas. Its announcement is the source of this story.
Ecopetrol: It is Colombia’s state-controlled oil company. Its shares trade in Bogotá and in New York under the ticker EC.
UNGRD: It is Colombia’s national disaster-risk agency. A corruption case about its contracts is described below.
Section 212(a)(3)(C): It is a rule in US immigration law on refusing visas. It applies when someone’s entry could harm US foreign policy.
Who Is on the List
Colombian media named seven people, although El Espectador counts 21 affected. The seven below were named by El Tiempo, Semana and Blu Radio.
- Ricardo Roa Barragán, former president of Ecopetrol
- Wadith Alberto Manzur Imbett, senator-elect and former representative
- Yahir Fernando Acuña Cardales, mayor of Sincelejo
- Karen Astrith Manrique Olarte, elected representative
- Julio Elías Chagüi Flórez, former senator
- Liliana Esther Bitar Castilla, former senator
- José Ignacio Mesa Betancur, former representative and former mayor of Envigado
Roa left the presidency of Ecopetrol in July 2026. He managed Gustavo Petro’s 2022 presidential campaign, and prosecutors have charged him in two cases.
One alleges a breach of the campaign-spending cap, and the other alleges influence-peddling over a Bogotá flat tied to Ecopetrol contracts. He did not accept the charges, and a hearing at which prosecutors formally present their accusation in the campaign-spending case is set for 30 October 2026.
Vanguardia reports that he also faces a money-laundering investigation. He is presumed innocent in all of these matters, and our report on the Roa case has the detail.
Wadith Manzur was elected senator in March 2026 and was detained that month on a Supreme Court order. The case concerns UNGRD and alleged bribery over external credit operations.
Asuntos Legales reports that he was moved to La Picota prison in Bogotá on 16 September 2026. He has not been convicted, and our earlier article explains the case.
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What Is Not Known
The full list of the 21 people has not been published in the reports we reviewed. The individual reasons for each revocation are also unknown.
No reaction from any of the seven was documented at the time of publication. It is not known whether any of them will challenge the decision.
What Prediction Markets Say
Polymarket, a prediction-market platform, lists a market asking whether Gustavo Petro will be charged in the US by 31 December 2026. It showed 15.0%, with US$101,245 traded, as of 22 October 2026, 2:37 p.m. ET.
These prices are real-money bets, not polls, and they are not evidence that any charge is planned. Petro is not among the seven names reported.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What It Means for US Readers
Washington has used visa powers against officials in the region before, and our earlier reporting covers US visa revocations in Brazil. This case adds Colombian lawmakers, a mayor and a former oil chief to the people affected by such measures.
Ecopetrol trades in New York as an American depositary receipt (ADR), a way for US investors to hold foreign shares. Roa led the company until July 2026, and we make no claim about the share price.
The decision also lands in Colombian politics, where Abelardo de la Espriella has been president since 7 August 2026, after Gustavo Petro. Several of those named hold or held seats in Congress, and our Colombia coverage follows the story.
What happens next depends on the names still to be confirmed and on any response from those affected. Useful markers will be the full list, any official US text and the 30 October hearing in Roa’s campaign-spending case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the US revoke the visas?
The State Department said it is expanding its campaign against corruption and drug trafficking in the region. Semana reports the action cites Section 212(a)(3)(C) of US immigration law, which covers entry that could harm US foreign policy.
Is Ricardo Roa convicted?
No. Prosecutors have charged him in two cases, but he did not accept the charges and is presumed innocent. A visa revocation is an administrative decision, not a conviction.
How many people are affected?
El Espectador counts 21 Colombian citizens. Colombian media named seven, and El Tiempo and Semana report that the measure also extends to family members.
Why does this matter to US investors?
Ecopetrol, Colombia’s state-controlled oil company, trades in New York under the ticker EC, and Roa led it until July 2026. We make no claim about the share price.
Sources
El Tiempo; El Espectador; Semana; Blu Radio; Asuntos Legales; Vanguardia; Valora Analitik. All reports dated 22 October 2026 unless stated; no State Department text was found.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief