Overview

• Cacique Mara from Maracaibo secured its World Series berth by winning the Latin American regional championship but was refused travel visas under President Trump’s expanded security proclamation.
• Little League International called the visa denial “extremely disappointing” for the 15-year-old players and acted promptly to advance the Mexican runner-up to preserve the tournament lineup.
• A senior State Department official confirmed that consular officers are conducting a procedural review to verify that visa protocols and appeals were properly handled at the U.S. embassy in Bogotá.
• The June proclamation restricts Venezuelan entry to the United States and excludes the Senior League World Series from exemptions reserved for major international sporting events.
• Players and families of Cacique Mara have expressed frustration and described the outcome as unjust after years of preparation to compete on the global stage.