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A social democratic symbol banned from entering the US

Óscar Arias speaking at the 15th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates on Nov. 15, 2015. Photo: Catwalker/Shutterstock

Óscar Arias, the two-time president of Costa Rica and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was informed last week via a brief email that his visa to the United States had been revoked. 

  • The message offered no explanation, leaving the 84-year-old statesman barred from entering the country he long considered an ally — and sparking speculation about the motives behind the decision.

State of play. The move comes amid the broader hard-line approach by the Donald Trump White House, which has cracked down not only on illegal migration but also on perceived adversaries across Latin America. The US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela, levied tariffs on Mexico and denied entry to Argentina’s former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, citing her criminal convictions.

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