Introduction to the Issue
A new travel ban has been ordered by the Trump administration, banning immigration from certain countries across the world, with the administration citing "security concerns."
A Venezuelan baseball team who qualified for the Little League Senior Baseball World Series will miss the event because the U.S. denied their visas.
Background on the Team
The Cacique Mara team, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, was scheduled to participate in the tournament after winning the Latin American championship in Mexico. The players are teenagers, between 13 and 16 years old.
Baseball Team Denied Visas
What we know: The Venezuelan team traveled to Colombia two weeks ago to apply for their visas at the U.S. embassy in Bogotá. Earlier this month, the Cuban women’s volleyball team was denied visas to participate in a tournament in Puerto Rico.
Reasons for Visa Denial
What we don’t know: It’s unclear exactly why the visas were denied, though Venezuela is among a list of countries with restrictions for entering the U.S. or its territories. President Donald Trump has banned travel to the U.S. from 12 other countries, citing national security concerns.
RELATED: Trump considers adding 36 countries to travel ban
The embassy did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment
Reactions to the Decision
What they’re saying: In a statement, Little League International called the move "extremely disappointing, especially to these young athletes."
"It is a mockery on the part of Little League to keep us here in Bogotá with the hope that our children can fulfill their dreams of participating in a world championship," the team said in a statement. "What do we do with so much injustice, what do we do with the pain that was caused to our children?"
"They told us that Venezuela is on a list because Trump says Venezuelans are a threat to the security of his state, of his country," said Kendrick Gutiérrez, the league’s president in Venezuela. "It hasn’t been easy the situation; we earned the right to represent Latin America in the World Championship."
What is the Senior League Baseball World Series?
The backstory: The Senior League Baseball World Series, a tournament for players aged 13-16, is played each year in Easley, South Carolina. It begins Saturday.
What’s next: The tournament organizers replaced the Venezuelans with the Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico, the team that was a runner-up in the Latin American championship.
"I think this is the first time this has happened, but it shouldn’t end this way. They’re going to replace us with another team because relations have been severed; it’s not fair," Gutiérrez added. "I don’t understand why they put Mexico in at the last minute and left Venezuela out."
Conclusion
The denial of visas to the Venezuelan baseball team is a disappointment to the young athletes and their community. The reason for the denial is unclear, but it is believed to be related to the Trump administration’s travel ban. The tournament will go on without the Venezuelan team, but the decision has sparked outrage and disappointment.
FAQs
Q: Why was the Venezuelan baseball team denied visas?
A: The reason for the denial is unclear, but it is believed to be related to the Trump administration’s travel ban.
Q: Which team replaced the Venezuelan team in the tournament?
A: The Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico, replaced the Venezuelan team.
Q: What is the Senior League Baseball World Series?
A: The Senior League Baseball World Series is a tournament for players aged 13-16, played each year in Easley, South Carolina.
Q: How did the team and community react to the decision?
A: The team and community expressed disappointment and outrage, feeling that the decision was unfair and caused pain to the young athletes.
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press.
