"The US 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, according to two Mexican officials. The move has sent quiet shock waves through Mexico's political elite, who regularly travel to the US. It also marks a significant broadening of US anti-narcotics action, with the Trump administration targeting active politicians usually seen as too diplomatically sensitive."
"The US does not need to provide explanations for revoking someone's visa and the threshold for doing so is much lower than for imposing sanctions or a prosecution. In response to a Reuters request for comment, a senior US state department official said: Visas, including those held by foreign officials, may be revoked at any time for activities that run contrary to America's national interest."
"A handful of these cases have been publicized, but the reporting shows that the visa cancellations are far more widespread than previously reported. According to three former US ambassadors, previous administrations have revoked visas in this way but not to the same degree, which they said was indicative of 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, US ambassador to Mexico from 2011 to 2015."
The US government revoked visas of at least 50 Mexican politicians and government officials amid a Trump administration crackdown on drug cartels and suspected political allies. The move surprised Mexico's political elite, many of whom travel regularly to the US, and signals a significant broadening of US anti-narcotics action by targeting active politicians typically considered diplomatically sensitive. Previous administrations revoked visas similarly but not to this extent, reflecting Trump's willingness to use diplomatic tools to achieve policy aims. More than 50 Morena politicians and dozens from other parties reportedly lost visas. The US need not provide explanations, and visa revocation has a lower threshold than sanctions or prosecutions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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