State Department Sanctions Nicaraguan Official for Human Rights Violations

The U.S Department of State (DoS) announced this week that it will hold the Nicaraguan Murillo-Ortega Regime accountable for its Human Rights violations within the Maximum-Security prison La Modelo.

The DoS will designate La Modelo’s Director, Roberto Clemente Guevara Gomez, for his connection to the abuse of political prisoners.

“Today, the Department is taking action to promote accountability for the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship’s abuse of political prisoners by designating La Modelo prison Maximum-Security Director Roberto Clemente Guevara Gómez under Section 7031(c) for his involvement in a gross violation of human rights of a political prisoner," the DoS announced in a press statement.

The U.S. has urged the Nicaraguan government to proceed with the “immediate, unconditional release of all unjustly detained political prisoners in Nicaragua.”

The designation was “made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47), as carried forward by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026 (Div. A, P.L. 119-37).”

Section 7031(c) is a sanctions authority under the annual U.S. appropriations laws that imposes visa restrictions on foreign officials involved in “significant corruption” or a “gross violation of human rights” internationally.

Previously, the DoS had imposed Section 7031(c) on Anderson Jibas; Palau Senate President Hokkons Baules, who is the former mayor of the Kili/Bikini/Ejit people in the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and on each of their immediate family members. Baules was designated for his involvement in “significant corruption” on behalf of Chinese interests, while Jibas was sanctioned for misappropriation of U.S. funds and corruption during his term as mayor.