U.S. revokes Mexican officials' visas
Move could complicate countries; relationship
By: Diego OrE
Emily Cree
and Stephen eisenhammer
Reuters
MEXICO CITY - The U.S. government has revoked the visas of at least 50 politicians and government officials in Mexico amid the Trump administration's crackdown on drug cartels and their suspected political allies, two Mexican officials told Reuters.
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A handful of these cases have been publicized, but Reuters reporting shows the visa cancellation are far more widespread than previously reported.
..... According to three former U.S. ambassadors, previous administration have revoked visas in this way - but not tot he same degree, which they said was indicative of President Donald Trump's willingness to use the diplomatic tool to achieve policy goals.
..... "The Trump administration is finding new ways to exert more pressure on Mexico," said Tony Wayne, U.S. ambassador to Mexico from 2011 to 2015.
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The move has sent shock-ways through Mexico's political elite, who often travel to the United States and require a visa to do so. It also marks a significant broadening of U.S. anti-narcotics action, with the Trump administration targeting active politicians usually seen as to diplomatically sensitive.
..... One of the sources, a senior Mexican politician, said more than 50 politicians from the ruling Morena party have had their visas revoked, as well as dozens of officials from other political parties. The sources requested anonymity to speak on a sensitive topic.
..... Reuters was unable to ascertain the names of the Mexican officials whose visas have been revoked. So far, only four have publicly confirmed they lost there visas, including Baja California state Governor Marina del Pilar Avilam who has categorically denied any links to organized crime.
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The United States does not need to provide explanations for revoking someone's visa, and the revoking doing so is much lower than for imposing sanctions or a prosecution, sources said.
..... In response to a Reuters request for comment, a senior State Department officials said: "Visas, including those held by foreign officials, may be revoked at any time; for "activities that run contrary to America's national interests."
..... The Trump administration has had a good working relationship with the Sheinbaum government, and we look forward to continuing to advance our bilateral relationship in the interest of the America first foreign policy agenda," the official said.
..... Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in response to a question a there regular news conference on October 14, [2025] said she did not have information about the issue and that the United States does not generally tell the Mexican government when it revokes visas because it is "personal information" related to the individuals involved.
Not limited to Mexico
..... The Trump administration has also been revoking visas elsewhere in Latin America against perceived political and ideological foes.
..... Christopher Landua, former U.S. ambassador to Mexico and the State Department's Number 2 official, has made no secret of his penchant for denying access to the United States, referring to himself on X as "El quitavisas," which translates to "The Visa Snatcher."
..... The State Department said in September [2025] it would pull Colombian President Gustavo Petro's visa after he spoke at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey Trump's orders. Petro hit back, declaring: "I don't care."
..... In Brazil, more than 20 top judges and officials have lost their visas, while in Costa Rica, at least 14 politicians and business leaders, including former president and Nobel Peace Prize Laureae Oscar Arias, have had theirs revoked, arias, who had been critical of Trump on classic media, said he was given no reason for the revocation.
..... In Mexico, the widespread visa revocations - especially of members of Sheinbuam's ruling Morena party - threaten to complicate the country's already uneasy relationship with the United States.
..... Amid high-stakes trade negotiations and security talks, Sheinbaum has opted to collaborate closely with the United States to go after the cartels. Still she has condemned repeated suggestions by Trump administration officials that the United States could take unilateral military action in Mexico, which she has said would violate Mexico's sovereignty.
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A third source with knowledge of the visa process said the revocations are part of Trump's security strategy, adding that the administration's designation of some cartels as terrorist organizations means intelligence held by the Drug enforcement Administration increasingly impacts someone's U.S. visa status.
..... ProPublica first reported that U.S. officials expected to revoke dozens of vises of political figures in Mexico for suspected links to the cartels. Reuters reported in June [2025] the Trump administration was pressuring Mexico to investigate and prosecute politicians with suspected links it organized crime.
No explanation needed
..... The United States has refused to give explanations for the visa revocations to the individuals involved, four Mexican sources said, sowing confusion among officials that they could be next as well as concern it could mean they eyer under criminal investigation. Nearly all of the people impacted have avoided talking about it publicly beaus it is seen as a stain on their reputation, the sources said. Roberta Jacobson, who served as ambassador to Mexico form 216 to 2018, said when she was in government, visa cancellation of politicians usually only happens because of a conviction or an ongoing criminal case. She said having a visa pulled could indict that the United States is investigation the person for criminal activities, but not necessarily.