US Lawmaker Urges Secretary of State to Grant Visa for Cape Verde Goalkeeper's Mother

WASHINGTON D.C. The Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to grant a visa to the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to watch the World Cup football tournament.

When Cape Verde stunned the strong team Spain by holding them to a goalless draw in their first World Cup match, goalkeeper Vozinha's mother Ana Candida Evora was unable to come to America to watch her son's historic match because she could not pay the expensive bail required for a visa.

In January, the Donald Trump administration introduced a new rule with the aim of preventing visa overstays, which stipulated that citizens of dozens of countries, including Cape Verde, had to pay a visa bail of up to $15,000 to enter the United States.

Last month, Washington announced that it would remove this rule for those with World Cup tickets and facilitate valid travel for the upcoming World Cup. But by then, due to the excessive cost, Evora had already given up the idea of traveling the 6,400 kilometers to Atlanta. She said, 'I really wanted to go there and watch the match, but it wasn't possible.'

This issue of the mother being unable to come to America to watch her son's historic performance in the World Cup has now caused a major debate and reaction. Democratic leader of the House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries wrote on social media, 'No mother should be deprived of the opportunity to watch her child make history.'

He has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to use all his power to ensure that the mother can attend Cape Verde's next match on Sunday. An official from the State Department said that although there is no record of Evora applying for a visa, relatives of players are eligible for a waiver of the visa bond.

According to the official, Washington is actively contacting the player's family itself to assist with visa services.

Cape Verde stunned the world by stopping Spain's strong attack line in their World Cup debut on Monday, with goalkeeper Vozinha playing a key role. After the match, the goalkeeper, known as Josimar Dias, cried on the field. Later, speaking to reporters, he said he became emotional because his mother could not be present to watch his match live due to visa problems.

Many problems have arisen due to strict immigration policies in the early stages of this World Cup. Somalia's referee Omar Artan has been banned from entering the United States to officiate World Cup matches, and some members of Iran's backroom staff have also not been granted U.S. visas. Due to strict travel restrictions, the Iranian team had to move its main base to Mexico.

Cape Verde Football Federation President Mario Semedo said that the high cost of airfare, accommodation, and tickets for supporters of small nations coming to the World Cup is a big problem in itself.

Speaking to Reuters news agency, he said, 'It is not easy for Cape Verdean citizens to go to the World Cup. Air tickets, hotels, and match tickets all incur huge expenses.'

He expressed the view that measures to create an environment for supporters to travel should always be open, addressing immigration concerns, and that every effort should be made to facilitate it if a player's family member wishes to watch the game. -Al Jazeera