A Little League baseball staff from Venezuela has been denied visas into the US, leaving them unable to play within the Senior League World Collection in South Carolina, officers mentioned Friday.
Little League Worldwide introduced in an announcement that the Cacique Mara staff couldn’t “obtain the appropriate visas” to move the match after first touring to Colombia two weeks in the past.
The staff, which hails from Maracaibo, Venezuela, was anticipating to take part within the Senior League World Collection in Easley after profitable the Latin American Little League championship in Mexico on June 16.
Senior League Baseball celebrated the Venezuelan victory, writing in a social media submit, “See you all in 40 days for the first pitch!”
Now, Cacique Mara has lambasted Little League officers following the disappointing announcement and their failure to safe passage to the States.
“It is a mockery on the part of Little League to keep us here in Bogota with the hope that our children can fulfill their dreams of participating in a world championship,” an announcement from the staff learn.
“What do we do with such injustice, what do we do with the pain that was caused to our children?”
It isn’t instantly clear the rationale the staff was denied journey visas.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio lately met with opposition leaders in Venezuela who oppose present President Nicolas Maduro, who the previous Florida senator has known as “illegitimate.”
Little League Worldwide introduced that the staff from Venezuela will probably be changed by the second place Latin American staff, Santa Maria de Aguayo Little League from Victoria, Mexico.
The Trump administration issued partial journey bans on seven international locations together with Venezuela earlier this month — tacking on full bans for 12 different international locations — citing nationwide safety considerations.
“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm, and nothing will stop us from keeping America safe,” President Trump mentioned in a video posted to X on June 4.
Cuba, which seems on the brand new journey restrictions listing, has beforehand fielded groups within the Little League World Collection and used to have its personal devoted area within the worldwide baseball group.
No staff from Cuba certified for the Senior or Little World Collection match this yr.
The Senior League World Collection will probably be performed from July 26 by way of August 2.
The US State Division didn’t reply to The Publish’s request for remark.
