The U.S. State Department has 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.

The United States has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign government officials involved in the forced return of Uyghurs and other vulnerable ethnic or religious groups to China.

Thailand responded on Saturday that it had received reassurances from China “over the safety of the Uyghurs and will continue to follow up on the well-being of this group.”