Venezuelan little league team blocked from US tournament by Donald Trump’s travel ban

The Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, will miss the 2024 Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina. The team was denied US visas just days before the tournament starts on July 27.

These young players had earned their spot by winning the Latin American championship, but now their dreams are crushed. The reason? A travel ban linked to US President Donald Trump’s immigration policy.

Donald Trump blocked Venezuelan team from US tournament just days before it begins

The Cacique Mara Little League baseball team from Maracaibo, Venezuela won't be allowed to participate in the 2024 Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina. The contest kicks off Saturday, July 27. Why? The players were turned down visas to visit the United States.

Little League International said on Friday that the team's visa application was turned down. Having won the Latin American title in Mexico and qualified to represent the region at the global competition, the young players, ages 13 and 16, They are, however, compelled to hang back now.They had traveled to Bogotá, Colombia, two weeks ago to apply for their US visas. But all their hopes ended when they were told the paperwork wouldn’t go through. The team shared a statement, saying: “It is a mockery to keep us in Bogotá with hope. What do we do with the pain caused to our children?”

Donald Trump’s travel ban stops young Venezuelan athletes from playing in US

The team’s visa denial is part of a larger issue.

US President Donald Trump has reintroduced a travel ban that blocks people from 13 countries from entering the United States. Venezuela is one of them. Trump claims these bans are necessary for national security.Kendrick Gutiérrez, president of the Venezuelan Little League, said on Friday, “They told us Venezuela is on a list because Trump says we are a threat. But these are children. They earned their place by winning.”The White House said in June that athletes traveling for major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup would be allowed under special rules. But it seems youth baseball is not included.Also Read: Jannik Sinner Coaching Rumors Spark Drama As Brad Gilbert Slams ‘Fake News’ Before US Open 2025Last week, the Cuban women’s volleyball team also couldn’t travel to Puerto Rico for their tournament due to visa issues. That decision also sparked outrage.In place of the Venezuelan team, the Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico, will now join the Senior League World Series.

They were runners-up at the Latin American championship.Gutiérrez added, “We don’t understand why Venezuela was dropped and Mexico added. This is the first time something like this has happened. It’s not fair to the children.”Little League International called the visa denial “extremely disappointing,” especially for the young players who had worked so hard to reach this stage.

FAQs

1. Why was the Venezuelan Little League team denied US visas?The team was denied visas due to Donald Trump’s renewed travel ban on Venezuela.2. Which country replaced Venezuela in the Senior League Baseball World Series 2024?Mexico’s Santa Maria de Aguayo team replaced Venezuela in the tournament.3. Is Venezuela included in Donald Trump’s travel ban list?Yes, Venezuela is one of the countries affected by Trump’s travel restrictions.