U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said he is honored to be part of a long list of U.S. diplomats and lawmakers who have been officially banned from traveling to Venezuela by President Nicolas Maduro.

Last week, Maduro announced he is imposing diplomatic sanctions against officials in the U.S. In response, Sen. Rubio said his name on the list is a "badge of honor."

"I love the people of Venezuela. I want that country to have freedom. I want it to have human rights and to be banned by a dictator like Nicolas Maduro is, to me, a badge of honor," the Republican senator told Fox News on Saturday.

Rubio, who has been highly critical of Maduro's policies, also called the country a "human rights catastrophe" while speaking on the Senate floor last Friday.

Other U.S. representatives also dismissed the idea of being banned from visiting Venezuela.

"Proud to be banned from #Venezuela by #Maduro. I'll continue to advocate for #humanrights #SOSVzla #SOSVenezuela," tweeted Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in response.

"I'm in good company: banned from entering #Venezuela by autocrat #Maduro w @SenatorMenendez @marcorubio @MarioDB + George W #Bush #SOSVzla," she continued.

Meanwhile, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart tweeted, "I've always wanted to travel to a corrupt country that is not a free democracy. And now Castro's lap dog won't let me! #quepena #maduro."

Sen. Bob Mendendez also expressed his reaction via Twitter: "I will continue to speak out against #humanrights abuses in #Venezuela, even if I am banned from travelling there. #SanctionedByMaduro"

Maduro also banned former President George W. Bush from coming to his country.

In addition to imposing the bans, Maduro revealed Venezuela would be reducing the number of American officials staffed at the U.S. Embassy, limiting the activities of U.S. diplomats and mandating American visitors obtain a new tourist visa to ensure national security, reportedly.

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