US revokes visa of Costa Rica’s Nobel Prize-winning ex-president
Former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner (Photo: Getty Images)
The former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize winner Óscar Arias Sánchez stated that the United States revoked his visa without explanation, reports The New York Times.
Óscar Arias Sánchez, who served twice as the president of Costa Rica and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end civil wars in Central America, said he received a short email from the US government notifying him of the visa revocation.
The email cited Section 221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows the Secretary of State and consular officials to revoke visas at their discretion.
"I don’t know why they revoked my visa," Arias said at a press conference in San José, the capital of Costa Rica. "I am not sure if it is related to my statements, but if someone is trying to punish me to silence me, it won't work."
Arias is also known for his criticism of the Trump administration. In February, he described Trump on Facebook as a "Roman emperor" who dictates to the whole world what to do. Despite this, the former president noted that he did not currently plan a trip to the United States and did not specify which visa he had.
Dangerous statements and visa revocations
The decision to revoke Sánchez's visa became part of the broader campaign by the Trump administration aimed at barring entry to those who, according to the authorities, demonstrate a "hostile attitude" toward the United States.
The US administration has already revoked more than 300 visas from students. In March of this year, one of them was Palestinian activist and former Columbia University student, Mahmoud Khalil.
Recently, the visa of Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk from Tufts University was also revoked without explanation. Such measures have been criticized both domestically and internationally.
More and more international students and political activists are facing the threat of visa revocation and deportation. Amidst this, many foreign students are reconsidering their decision to pursue education in the United States, fearing potential consequences.
Moreover, Trump's harsh immigration policies have led to a decline in tourism and billions in losses for the US economy, as foreign visitors feel unwelcome.
