Chinchilla Calls for Costa Rican Government to Seek Clarification from U.S. on Visa Revocations
Former President Laura Chinchilla urges the Chaves administration to request explanations for the cancellation of U.S. visas for former President Óscar Arias, lawmakers, and an auditor.
Laura Chinchilla, the former President of Costa Rica, has advocated for the current government, led by President Rodrigo Chaves, to formally seek explanations from the United States regarding its decision to revoke visas for several prominent Costa Rican figures.
This group includes former President Óscar Arias, four members of the Legislative Assembly, and the general auditor of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE).
Chinchilla expressed concerns that this action could lead to reputational damage for Costa Rica and potentially strain the historically strong relationship between the two nations.
She highlighted that such visa cancellations are typically associated with individuals involved in undemocratic or criminal activities, indicating a serious implication for the country’s image on the global stage.
In statements made to the media, Chinchilla called for a high-level diplomatic engagement, respectful yet assertive, to understand the motivations behind the U.S. government's actions.
She noted that apart from Rodrigo Arias, the president of the Legislative Assembly, no other government officials have acted diplomatically to seek further information from U.S. authorities regarding the visa issues.
Chinchilla expressed surprise at the manner in which the visa revocation was handled, emphasizing that no official communications from the U.S. government have accompanied the recent developments.
The only public indication of impending actions was made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his visit to Costa Rica in early February, where he warned that sanctions would be applied to Costa Rican officials who collaborate with foreign entities viewed as threats to national cybersecurity, particularly alluding to concerns regarding China.
The former president noted the lack of detailed explanations regarding the reasons behind the visa cancellations, pointing out that many of the affected individuals do not exhibit characteristics historically associated with such actions, such as significant corruption or posing direct threats to U.S. national security.
The specific individuals affected include independent lawmakers Johana Obando and Cynthia Córdoba, Vanessa Castro of the Social Christian Unity Party, and Francisco Nicolás from the National Liberation Party.
They have been accused by the Chaves administration of favoring or having close ties with the Chinese company Huawei.
Sofía Machuca, the head auditor of ICE, was also subject to the same visa sanctions for similar reasons.
Óscar Arias, for his part, diverged from the prevailing narrative, refraining from speculating on the reasons for his visa revocation and denying any influence by the Chaves administration on the U.S. decision.
Chinchilla reiterated the importance of respecting national sovereignty in immigration policies while emphasizing the need for clarity to prevent any adverse effects on Costa Rica's longstanding relationship with the United States.
She remarked that historical ties to American values align closely with Costa Rican sentiments, and such incidents could leave scars on diplomatic relations, impacting the overall perception of the United States among Costa Ricans.
This group includes former President Óscar Arias, four members of the Legislative Assembly, and the general auditor of the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE).
Chinchilla expressed concerns that this action could lead to reputational damage for Costa Rica and potentially strain the historically strong relationship between the two nations.
She highlighted that such visa cancellations are typically associated with individuals involved in undemocratic or criminal activities, indicating a serious implication for the country’s image on the global stage.
In statements made to the media, Chinchilla called for a high-level diplomatic engagement, respectful yet assertive, to understand the motivations behind the U.S. government's actions.
She noted that apart from Rodrigo Arias, the president of the Legislative Assembly, no other government officials have acted diplomatically to seek further information from U.S. authorities regarding the visa issues.
Chinchilla expressed surprise at the manner in which the visa revocation was handled, emphasizing that no official communications from the U.S. government have accompanied the recent developments.
The only public indication of impending actions was made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his visit to Costa Rica in early February, where he warned that sanctions would be applied to Costa Rican officials who collaborate with foreign entities viewed as threats to national cybersecurity, particularly alluding to concerns regarding China.
The former president noted the lack of detailed explanations regarding the reasons behind the visa cancellations, pointing out that many of the affected individuals do not exhibit characteristics historically associated with such actions, such as significant corruption or posing direct threats to U.S. national security.
The specific individuals affected include independent lawmakers Johana Obando and Cynthia Córdoba, Vanessa Castro of the Social Christian Unity Party, and Francisco Nicolás from the National Liberation Party.
They have been accused by the Chaves administration of favoring or having close ties with the Chinese company Huawei.
Sofía Machuca, the head auditor of ICE, was also subject to the same visa sanctions for similar reasons.
Óscar Arias, for his part, diverged from the prevailing narrative, refraining from speculating on the reasons for his visa revocation and denying any influence by the Chaves administration on the U.S. decision.
Chinchilla reiterated the importance of respecting national sovereignty in immigration policies while emphasizing the need for clarity to prevent any adverse effects on Costa Rica's longstanding relationship with the United States.
She remarked that historical ties to American values align closely with Costa Rican sentiments, and such incidents could leave scars on diplomatic relations, impacting the overall perception of the United States among Costa Ricans.
