U.S. State Department officials are reviewing the recent denial of visas to the Cacique Mara Venezuelan Little League team, which had qualified for the 2025 Senior League Baseball World Series in Easley, South Carolina. The denial was linked to a presidential proclamation issued on June 4, 2025, that restricts entry for nationals from Venezuela and several other countries. As a result, the team was barred from traveling to the United States and has been replaced in the tournament by the runner-up from the Latin American regional championship, the Santa María de Aguayo Little League from Mexico. The Senior League World Series is being held from July 26 through August 2.
The 16 Venezuelan players and their coaching staff applied for U.S. visas at the American embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, because there is no active U.S. consular presence in Venezuela. After participating in interviews on July 14, the entire team received visa denials. A follow-up emergency request submitted later that week was also rejected. The embassy cited Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, along with a presidential proclamation restricting travel from Venezuela, as the legal basis for the denials. The consular decisions were final and not subject to appeal.
Cacique Mara had earned its place in the World Series by going undefeated in the Latin American regional tournament. The team arrived in Bogotá around July 10 and continued training while awaiting visa approvals. The president of the Cacique Mara Little League, Kendry Gutiérrez, described the outcome as demoralizing, emphasizing that the players were teenagers who posed no risk and were only seeking to represent their country in an international sporting event.
Little League International issued a statement expressing disappointment that the athletes would be unable to participate, affirming that the Mexican team would fill the vacant spot to keep the tournament on schedule. The organization emphasized its commitment to international participation and regret that political or diplomatic barriers prevented a qualified team from competing.
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The State Department has confirmed it is reviewing the matter to ensure that proper consular procedures were followed and to determine whether the applicants had any available recourse that was not pursued. Officials did not offer any immediate indication that the decision would be reversed or that future exceptions might be granted under similar circumstances.
The visa denials have drawn criticism from Venezuelan officials and international observers. Some questioned why athletes were not granted waivers or exemptions, particularly since the presidential proclamation includes provisions that allow for certain exceptions. This case has also drawn comparisons to a similar situation involving a Cuban women’s volleyball team, which was also denied entry into the United States for a sporting event earlier this year.
As the United States prepares to host major international sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, the controversy has raised concerns about the impact of restrictive visa policies on global sports participation. Critics argue that the integrity of international competitions could be undermined if qualifying teams are unable to attend due to immigration restrictions, regardless of their performance or intentions.
The situation involving Cacique Mara has become a flashpoint in the broader conversation about balancing national security with international engagement. While U.S. officials maintain that the visa decisions were consistent with law and policy, the impact on the young athletes and their families has sparked a wave of public sympathy and renewed debate over the role of diplomacy in sports.
