Óscar Arias Sánchez’s Visa Revocation by the United States
Óscar Arias Sánchez, the distinguished Nobel laureate and former president of Costa Rica, announced on Tuesday that the United States government has revoked his visa, without providing any specific reason for this action. This development has drawn attention as he has been a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump.
Mr. Arias, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his pivotal role in negotiating peace in Central America, indicated that he is among a growing list of individuals who have faced visa cancellations or denials under the Trump administration. The U.S. government has taken a firm stance against those it perceives as having “hostile attitudes” toward the country.
During a press conference held in San José, Costa Rica’s capital, Mr. Arias disclosed that he received a brief email from the U.S. government notifying him of the visa revocation. This email, which arrived on Tuesday morning, referenced Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This particular section grants the Secretary of State and consular officials the authority to revoke visas at their discretion.
As of now, the U.S. State Department has not responded to inquiries regarding this matter, nor has there been any comment from the Costa Rican government. Mr. Arias expressed his confusion and concern, stating, “I don’t know why they have revoked my visa. I don’t know if the revoking of my visa is some sort of punishment, because I say what I think.”
