Former Costa Rican President Óscar Arias Sánchez, who is also a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, had his U.S. visa revoked by the U.S. State Department under the administration of President Donald Trump. Arias Sánchez, 84, shared in an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition that officials from the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica informed him of the visa revocation, attributing it to his strong connections with the Chinese government. Arias Sánchez served as the president of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2010, with Costa Rica establishing formal relations with China in 2007.
This year, Arias Sánchez publicly criticized President Trump on social media, likening him to a "Roman emperor" for dictating to the world. Arias Sánchez expressed concern that these remarks might have influenced the decision to revoke his visa, noting the president’s intolerance for criticism or disagreement.
When asked by NPR for further details regarding the revocation, a State Department spokesperson cited the confidentiality of visa records under U.S. law, declining to provide specifics about individual cases.
During an interview with NPR’s Leila Fadel, Arias Sánchez recounted receiving an email notification on April 1, indicating that his B1/B2 visa had been revoked. Upon visiting the U.S. embassy, staff attributed the action to his close ties with China, established during his second term as Costa Rican president when he initiated diplomatic relations with China due to its significant economic influence.
Arias Sánchez speculated on whether his remarks about President Trump contributed to the visa issue, but embassy staff did not explicitly confirm this as a reason, instead citing his relationship with China. Regarding the Trump administration’s policy towards individuals deemed to possess a "hostile attitude" towards the United States, Arias Sánchez emphasized his friendly disposition towards the nation, citing his children’s education in the U.S. and his receipt of numerous honorary degrees from American universities. Despite disagreements with certain U.S. policies in the 1980s, including those supporting Contra rebels, Arias Sánchez affirmed his commitment to both the United States and principled causes.
The case has garnered attention due to Arias Sánchez’s prominent status, raising questions about U.S. policy under the current administration. He asserts that in a democratic society, criticism is a pathway to consensus-building, as evidenced by his experience in Central American peace negotiations. Arias Sánchez expressed concern that criticism of the U.S. might now lead to punitive consequences.
The article was edited by Treye Green, with the radio segment edited by Reena Advani and produced by Julie Depenbrock.
