United States Uses Visa Revocations as Geopolitical Tool in Latin America

The United States government has canceled the visa of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, the son of former Mexican President López Obrador and a member of the ruling Morena party. The action was carried out by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the move as American interference but stated she would not initiate a diplomatic crisis. In contrast, Beltrán suggested the revocation indicates Mexico should prepare for a U.S. offensive. The situation highlights a divide within the Morena party between the pragmatic approach of Sheinbaum and the ideological line of López Obrador. Beltrán is currently facing allegations of corruption and illicit enrichment.

Since Donald Trump returned to power in January 2025, the U.S. has canceled 175,000 visas. These revocations have affected students, executives, immigrants, and politically exposed persons. The U.S. Department of State maintains discretionary power over these administrative measures to align with national interests. Previous examples include a 2023 incident where the Biden administration allegedly pressured the government of Gabriel Boric in Chile to stop a submarine cable project with China by threatening visa cancellations for officials and their families. More recently, the Trump administration canceled the visa of former Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Óscar Arias, who established diplomatic ties with China. Additionally, the U.S. canceled visas for six directors of the newspaper La Nación, which has investigated sexual harassment allegations against Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves.

Visa policies have also impacted Brazil. In 2019, President Jair Bolsonaro unilaterally removed visa requirements for U.S. travelers. President Lula revoked that decree in 2023, though it took two years for the U.S. to reinstate the requirement for its citizens entering Brazil.