Narayan AmmachchiThe United States has revoked visas issued to several executives of Costa Rica’s leading daily La Nación, triggering concerns that the move may be linked to the outlet’s critical coverage of the country’s leadership.
The development has drawn attention because outgoing Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves is seen as politically aligned with former US President Donald Trump. Chaves had also agreed to accept up to 100 US deportees each month, a policy that underscored close bilateral cooperation.
Some observers have suggested that President Chaves may have influenced US authorities, although no official confirmation has been provided.
La Nación has consistently taken a critical stance toward Chaves. The president, in turn, had publicly expressed anger at the newspaper after it published allegations of sexual harassment during his 2022 presidential campaign.
In a statement carried on its front page on Sunday, the newspaper’s board said it learned of the visa revocations through pro-government media reports.
The executives described the move as unprecedented in Costa Rica’s recent history, noting that such action has not previously been taken against board members of an independent newspaper.
Political groups and press freedom organizations have condemned the decision, calling on both governments to provide an explanation. Several journalists, citing reports from the Associated Press, have also suggested that the US response may have been made at the request of the Costa Rican president.
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