Latest news with #MarinaDelPilarAvila
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mexican governor says Trump revoked her tourist visa preventing her from traveling to the US
The governor of the Mexican state of Baja California announced on Sunday that she and her husband had their tourist visas for the U.S. revoked. Marina del Pilar Avila, a member of Mexico's Morena party, said she and her husband were informed that their visas had been revoked, but did not say why, or if she was given a reason for losing her visa. She attributed the revocation to actions taken by President Donald Trump. "I fully trust that the situation will be satisfactorily clarified for both of us," Avila wrote on X. Avila's visa is one of hundreds that the Trump administration has revoked as it continues to crack down on immigration to the U.S. Carlos Torres Torres, another member of the Morena party and Avila's husband, said in a Facebook post that his visa had also been revoked. He noted in his post that losing his visa "does not represent an accusation, investigation, or formal indictment by any authority, neither in Mexico nor in the United States." Torres further said that his "conscience is clear" regarding the matter. Avila also commented in defense of her husband. 'I say this with absolute clarity: Carlos has always acted with integrity, dedication, and a deep commitment to Baja California," she said, according to the New York Post. Torres serves as the special projects coordinator for the Baja California state government and the city of Tijuana. The San Ysidro border crossing in Baja California — the border between the cities of Tijuana, Mexico, and the greater San Diego, California area — is the busiest border crossing on the planet. Baja California also has two other major border crossings further east in Otay Mesa and Tecate. Avila has been involved in immigration talks with the U.S. since Trump took office. Last week, she met with the U.S. Consul General in Tijuana, Christopher Teal, for talks. She isn't the first foreign official to have her visa revoked. Several weeks ago, Colombian President Gustavo Petro also had his visa revoked by the Trump administration. He lost his visa ahead of a visit with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Another world leader stunned to discover Trump has REVOKED visas for her and her husband
A second world leader has been notified that President Donald Trump 's administration revoked her and her husband's tourist visas. Marina del Pilar Avila, the governor of Mexico 's Baja California state, announced on Sunday that she and her husband, Carlos Torres, had been informed of the United States' consular measure. She did not provide any reason for the revocation in her X post, but Torres wrote on Facebook Saturday that it 'does not represent an accusation, investigation or formal incident by any authority, neither in Mexico nor in the United States.' Torres, who serves as the coordinator of special projects within the Baja California state administration and for the city of Tijuana, also claimed that the revocation is 'a measure that, as is with many people in similar contexts, responds to internal arrangements of the State Department. 'Currently, the application of these administrative criteria has become increasingly common and like so many others, I am included in that universe,' Torres told his followers. He went on to note that he has already contacted an international immigration lawyer 'who is evaluating the submission of a motion to reopen or reconsider the decisions or begin the process for a new visa application, in strict adherence to official channels.' 'I make this information public with responsibility and transparency, not only to avoid speculation, but also to limit political opponents' misuse of this situation,' Torres wrote, adding: 'Believe me: these are people without limits or scruples, willing to turn any fact into slander if they think it will give them an advantage.' 'Throughout my public life, I have acted out of respect for the law and [am] fully aware of the commitment I serve,' Torres concluded as he vowed that the situation 'will be handled with seriousness and confidence in legal procedures.' Pilar Avila also stood by her man in her post on X, saying he 'has always acted with integrity, dedication and a deep commitment to Baja California. 'My support for him isn't just personal, it's moral and political,' she wrote. 'Because I know who he is and because he has always stood up and taken responsibility for things that aren't his.' She also noted that 'this situation is taking place in a complex binational context that requires my composure and prudence.' Still, the Baja California governor said she has full confidence 'that the situation will be satisfactorily clarified for both of us.' The dramatic move to revoke her and her husband's visas comes just weeks after Pilar Avila took a trip to San Diego to promote tourism in Mexico, according to KUSI. It now remains unclear what may have provoked the US State Department to revoke their visas. However, the move comes as the Trump administration cracks down on who can obtain visas. In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent diplomats overseas a directive to scrutinize the social media content of any visa applicant in an effort to bar those suspected of criticizing the US or Israel from entering the country, according to the New York Times. His order specifically stated that applicants can be denied visas if their behavior or actions show they bear 'a hostile attitude toward US citizens or US culture (including government, institutions or founding principles).' Then on April 30, Rubio announced he was implementing a 'one-strike' policy for all temporary visa holders in a document marking Trump's first 100 days in office. He declared that 'a visa is a privilege, not a right,' and noted that under the Immigration and Nationality act, any noncitizen who 'endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization' is not welcome into the country. 'There is now a one-strike policy: Catch and Revoke,' Rubio wrote. 'Whenever the government catches non-US citizens breaking our laws, we will take action to revoke their status. 'The time of contemptuously taking advantage of our nation's generosity ends,' he concluded.
