The Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, will not be participating in the Senior Baseball World Series in South Carolina due to visa issues that prevented players from entering the US.
This team had previously qualified for the World Series by winning the Latin American Championship in Mexico. Unfortunately, efforts to secure the correct visas in Eastleigh, SC, were unsuccessful, as confirmed by Little League International.
In a statement, Little League International expressed disappointment over the situation, especially for the young athletes involved. Instead, the organization decided to allow the second-placed team from Mexico’s Tamaulipas to take their place in the championship.
This adjustment aims to ensure that the Latin American region is represented at the tournament and that the players, coaches, and families from Mexico have a great experience at the World Series.
A senior official from the State Department mentioned that US consular officials are looking into the matter to make sure that due process is being followed, particularly regarding any appeals made by visa applicants.
Venezuela is on a list of countries with travel restrictions under President Trump’s administration, which includes others such as Burundi, Cuba, and Turkmenistan, among others.
Earlier in June, the administration also enforced a total travel ban on citizens from twelve countries, citing national security concerns.
The Venezuelan team traveled to Colombia a couple of weeks ago to apply for their travel visas, as reported by the Associated Press.
In a statement, the team expressed their frustration, saying, “It’s ironic that Little League keeps us here in Bogotá, waiting for our kids to fulfill their dreams of competing in the World Championships. What can we do about this injustice? How do we manage the pain felt by our children?”
