Mexican Official Says Visa Revoked by Trump Administration

The governor of Baja California announced on social media Sunday that the United States has revoked tourist visas for her and her husband.

Marina del Pilar Ávila of Mexico’s ruling Morena party said they were informed of the consular action but did not disclose the reason behind the decision, which she attributed to the Trump administration.

“I fully trust that the situation will be satisfactorily clarified for both of us,” Ávila wrote in a social-media post on X, formerly Twitter.

Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment via email outside of normal office hours.

Marina del Pilar Ávila — File photo: Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda, arms aloft, smiles at the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Mexican president on July 1, 2023 in Mexico City.

Luis Barron/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire/Alamy Live News via AP

Why It Matters

There has been a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration, which has shut down the southern border with Mexico and initiated large-scale removals.

The administration has revoked hundreds of visas to remove legal status from immigrants as part of a hard-line mass deportations strategy.

What To Know

Ávila’s post did not indicate whether she was provided with a reason for the visa revocation.

Ávila’s husband, Carlos Torres Torres, also a member of the Morena party, was notified of the United States’ decision to revoke his visa.

He wrote on a Facebook post on Saturday that the move “does not represent an accusation, investigation, or formal indictment by any authority, neither in Mexico nor in the United States.” Torres added that his “conscience is clear.”

He serves as a coordinator of special projects for both the Baja California state government and the city of Tijuana.

Baja California, which shares a border with California, experiences the highest number of pedestrian crossings among all Mexican states along the U.S. border.

Last Thursday, Ávila met with Christopher Teal, the U.S. consul general in Tijuana, to hold bilateral talks.

A few weeks ago, Colombian President Gustavo Petro alleged that the Trump administration had rescinded his visa ahead of scheduled meetings with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

There have been heightened tensions between Mexico and the U.S. over tariffs, migration, and the flow of fentanyl.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum reportedly rejected Trump’s offer to allow American soldiers into the country to combat the drug gangs that produce and smuggle fentanyl into the United States, according to The Wall Street Journal.

What People Are Saying

Marina del Pilar Ávila said in a post on X: “I inform all citizens of Baja California that this situation is taking place in a complex binational context that requires my composure and prudence. I’ve said it repeatedly: governing my state is a source of pride, and I will continue to do so with my heart in mind and a clear conscience. My government will continue working tirelessly to address the challenges we face for the benefit of the people of Baja California.”

Carlos Torres Torres wrote in a post on Facebook: “I was notified by US Consular Authorities about the revocation of my non-immigrant visa, a measure that, as is with many people in similar contexts, responds to internal arrangements of the State Department. It should be noted that my conscience is calm and I am sure that the situation will be resolved favorably.”