The U.S. State Department announced this week additional visa restrictions for human rights violators from Venezuela.

In a statement from State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki, the Venezuelan government has ignored repeated calls to improve human rights and fundamental freedoms. Psaki said the Venezuelan government has attempted to "stifle dissent" by cracking down peaceful protests and prosecuting political activists. She said such protests were caused by Venezuela's "deteriorating" economic, political, social and security issues.

Using the Immigration and National Act, the State Department announced it has imposed visa restrictions for certain current and former Venezuelan government officials who are allegedly responsible for or provoking human rights abuses. Psaki also noted Secretary of State John Kerry imposed visa sanctions on people who are believed to be responsible for public corruption.

"We will not publicly identify these individuals because of U.S. visa confidentiality laws, but we are sending a clear message that human rights abusers, those who profit from public corruption, and their families are not welcome in the United States," the statement from Psaki said. "We emphasize the action we are announcing today is specific to individuals and not directed at the Venezuelan nation or its people."

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro criticized the visa restrictions. During a speech to supporters, Maduro said, "We can't let an empire that has been eyeing all of us pretend or think it has the right to sanction the country of [former Venezuelan political leader Simon] Bolivar."

Maduro said he will personally write a letter to President Barack Obama about the visa restrictions, which also impacts immediate family members of the alleged human rights violators.

Maduro recently accused the U.S., namely Vice President Joe Biden, of planning an overthrow of the Venezuelan government. Maduro claimed Caribbean leaders told him about Biden speaking about a coup in Caracas while the leaders attended the Caribbean Energy Security Summit in Washington, D.C., in late January. Psaki said Maduro's accusations are "baseless and false"

Pskaki added, "Such allegations distract from Venezuela's own actions by blaming the United States or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela. The Venezuelan Government should focus on the legitimate grievances of its people, which include repeated violations of the freedom of speech -- of freedom of speech and assembly as well as due process under the law."

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