The US government has revoked the visas of at least 50 politicians and government officials in Mexico amid the Trump administration’s crackdown on drug cartels and their suspected political allies, according to two Mexican officials.
The move has sent quiet shock waves through Mexico’s political elite, who regularly travel to the US. It also marks a significant broadening of US anti-narcotics action, with the Trump administration targeting active politicians usually seen as too diplomatically sensitive.
A handful of these cases have been publicized, but the reporting shows that the visa cancellations are far more widespread than previously reported.
According to three former US ambassadors, previous administrations have revoked visas in this way – but not to the same degree, which they said was indicative of Donald Trump’s willingness to use the diplomatic tool to achieve policy goals.
“The Trump administration is finding new ways to exert more pressure on Mexico,” said Tony Wayne, US ambassador to Mexico from 2011 to 2015.
One of the sources, a senior Mexican politician, said more than 50 politicians from the ruling Morena party have had their visas revoked, as well as dozens of officials from other political parties. The sources requested anonymity to speak on a sensitive topic.
So far, only four have publicly confirmed they lost their visas, including the Baja California state governor, Marina del Pilar Ávila, who has categorically denied any links to organized crime.
In response to a Reuters request for comment, a senior US state department official said: “Visas, including those held by foreign officials, may be revoked at any time” for “activities that run contrary to America’s national interest”.
Posted by John3262005