Ladder: expulsion and visa denial, in South America

A government expels correspondents who report from its territory for news organisations based in other countries, refuses them visas or accreditation, or declines to renew their permission to stay. The effect is less independent reporting from inside the country.

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

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3Punish

Legal or physical action against individual journalists or sources: subpoenas and record seizures, prosecutions, arrests, detention, expulsions, visa denials, assault where a government actor is involved.

VEVenezuelaRSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180

1 September 2017Nicolas Maduro

During 2016 to 2018 protests against President Nicolas Maduro's government, Venezuelan authorities expelled, deported or denied entry to dozens of foreign correspondents, most citing bureaucratic pretexts such as visa irregularities rather than a stated substantive reason.

Ongoing 25 January 2018 · 1 source · Full entry

VEVenezuelaRSF 2026 rank: 159th of 180

28 July 2024Nicolas Maduro

In the two weeks after Venezuela's disputed July 28, 2024 presidential election, Reporters Without Borders documented 70 press-freedom violations, including nine detentions, nine expulsions of foreign correspondents and the suspension of the social media platform X, as President Nicolas Maduro's go…

Sustained · 2 sources · Full entry

All ladders · Expulsion and visa denial: by country and year · The United States chapter