Two young baseball players from Nicaragua have been denied entry into the United States, preventing them from participating in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The team from Ministerio Sobre Las Alas Del Aguila LL, based in Leon, Nicaragua, is representing the Latin America Region in the tournament. However, due to unspecified "individual circumstances regarding visa travel documentation," two players were unable to travel with the rest of the team. This leaves the Nicaraguan roster with only 12 players.
Little League International stated that they work closely with the U.S. Department of State to assist participants with travel. "We are pleased that 12 of our players from Nicaragua were able to obtain the appropriate documentation and understand the disappointment for their two teammates not able to make the trip," a statement read, adding that no further details were available.
While Nicaragua is not under a general travel ban to the United States, the country was recently added to a list of nations subject to new restrictions. These restrictions typically require visitors from listed countries to pay a significant bond, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, at the time of their visa interview.
This situation echoes past instances where U.S. travel policies have disrupted international sporting events. During President Trump's previous term, sporting events such as the World Cup, the Senior Baseball World Series, and the World Baseball Classic have seen teams or delegates denied entry or facing significant visa challenges. In some cases, like the World Cup, bond requirements were waived for athletes and team members.