On March 9, 2015, President Obama issued an executive order freezing the assets of seven Venezuela officials. By issuing this order, Obama puts into effect S.2142 - Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014, a bill which he signed into law on December 18, 2014.

Obama's executive order is a direct result of protests in Venezuela which began in early February, 2014.

More:

• Letter -- Declaration of a National Emergency with Respect to Venezuela | whitehouse.gov
• Venezuelan teenager killed in San Cristobal protest | BBC
• Obama Favors Sanctions for Abuse of Venezuela Protesters | The New York Times
• Venezuela: What's the crisis about? | CNN
• What lies behind the protests in Venezuela? | BBC