Venezuelan teens cling to major league dreams after US visa denial

Bangkok Post Group

Managers and members of the Venezuelan minor league team were set to compete in a World Series baseball tournament in South Carolina before their U.S. visas were denied. The young players said that despite the frustration, they still hold on to their dream of playing on a professional team. - REUTERS

Transcript

00:00These young Venezuelan baseball players dream of playing in the World Series.

00:06But after their U.S. visas were denied, those ambitions are on hold.

00:11The Cacique Mara team was due to compete in a South Carolina World Series tournament.

00:16The team's president said it had a formal invitation from the United States Little League.

00:21But the players weren't allowed entry into the country.

00:24That's despite the State Department saying last week that it would review the matter.

00:29Eduardo Gutiérrez was due to play.

00:34Now I'm fine, but back then I felt terrible.

00:37It was a dream, and it's every boy's dream, to go to a World Series in the United States.

00:42And it was snatched away.

00:44It's terrible, and I felt terrible back then.

00:46But life goes on.

00:48U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation in June

00:52prohibiting entry to people from 12 countries

00:54and restricting entry for nationals of seven others,

00:57including Venezuelans.

00:59Gutiérrez, along with some of the parents,

01:02linked the denial to an ongoing pejorative narrative around Venezuelan immigrants.

01:08I don't know how we could threaten the United States.

01:11Boys are 15 and 16 years old.

01:14I don't know.

01:15I don't see any threat in this.

01:17Cacique Mara officials say they were not given a specific reason for the refusal.

01:21The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

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