Q COSTARICA — Far from being upset by the revocation of his U.S. visa, Fernando Cruz, a magistrate of Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court or Sala IV, stated that “it is an honor that the Donald Trump administration” has revoked his visa.
The news was released Tuesday night.
“I consider it a distinction. For a government like the United States, which has become even more aggressive and bellicose than it already was, to revoke my visa, I consider it an honor. It is an honor… A government like that of Mr. Donald Trump, which says it doesn’t want to learn Spanish. I don’t feel annoyed; I feel honored that a government like the United States, under Mr. Trump, would revoke my visa,” the magistrate told the La Nación.
Suspicious Connection
Furthermore, Cruz noted that he sees “similarities” between the judges whose votes displease President Rodrigo Chaves and the magistrates whose visas have been revoked by the United States.
“The magistrates whose visas have been revoked are those of us who have voted on matters that displease the Costa Rican government and the United States,” he said.
Previously, Paul Rueda, also a magistrate of the Constitutional Court, lost his entry visa to the United States.
Other political figures who also lost their visas
The following also had their visas to the U.S. revoked:
- Óscar Arias, two-time former President of Costa Rica and winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering efforts to end the brutal civil wars tearing apart Central America;
- Rodrigo Arias, President of the Legislative Assembly;
- Independent legislators Johanna Obando and Cynthia Córdoba;
- José Francisco Nicolás, PLN legislator;
- Vanessa Castro, PUSC legislator;
- Ana Sofía Machuca, Auditor General of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
Other Costa Ricans have also had their U.S. entry visas revoked.
The U.S. Embassy in San José has not given specific reasons for most revocations. In the cases where reasons where given, they included: 5G and China ties, political Disagreements, and judicial rulings.
In the case of Oscar Arias, his visa was revoked after public criticism of U.S. immigration policies and U.S. intervention in international affairs.
Magistrate Fernando Cruz’s visa was reportedly revoked following his judicial work regarding migrant rights, specifically defending migrants transferred from the U.S. to Costa Rica.