The governor of Baja California and her husband have revealed on social media that their tourist visas have been revoked by U.S. authorities. They attempted to downplay the situation, suggesting it’s a routine matter. However, it has sparked considerable controversy in Mexico, particularly among political opponents accusing them of links to organized crime.
Over the weekend, Governor Marina del Pilar Avila and her spouse, former lawmaker Carlo Stores Torres, posted about their visa issues on social media. Both suggested that this is a typical occurrence and expressed confidence that it would be sorted out shortly. The visa revocation aligns with ongoing actions by the U.S. State Department and Treasury against Mexican drug cartels and terrorist groups.
During a press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned that she had not been informed about the visa lapse beforehand and had asked U.S. officials for more details. Sheinbaum and del Pilar are members of the same party, Morena, known for their approach to handling drug cartels, famously advocating for “Hugs, Not Bullets.” She refrained from commenting further, indicating she would wait for additional information.
Shortly after del Pilar’s announcement, the Morena Party released a statement asserting that the visa issue is primarily procedural and a tactic used by political rivals that should not tarnish their political image.
The opposition National Action Party (PAN) called for a response from del Pilar, emphasizing that the visa revocation was a serious matter that shouldn’t be overlooked by the U.S. government.
Critics have long alleged that del Pilar and her husband have connections to organized crime. Recently, the state has faced a steep rise in violence as rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel clash, highlighted by the emergence of a newer cartel group asserting control in the area. Some observers suggest that del Pilar’s rise to power coincided with increased activities from the Sinaloa cartel.
