• Venezuelan Little League team Cacique Mara denied U.S. visas ahead of tournament.
• The decision linked to a travel ban enacted by former President Donald Trump.
• Team’s place in the Senior League Baseball World Series replaced by a Mexican team.
• State Department reviewing the visa denial and procedures.
• Little League International expresses disappointment over the situation.

The Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, has been denied U.S. visas and will miss the **2025 Senior League Baseball World Series** in South Carolina, which begins on July 26. This decision has been attributed to a travel ban linked to former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, which restrict Venezuelans from entering the U.S. Little League International stated that this denial is "extremely disappointing, especially to these young athletes," who earned their place in the tournament by becoming the champions of the Latin American championship in Mexico. The **Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico**, has been chosen to replace the Venezuelans in the competition, according to Newsweek, India Times, and Reuters.

The young athletes had traveled to **Bogotá, Colombia**, to apply for their U.S. visas two weeks before the tournament begins. In a statement, team president **Kendrick Gutiérrez** expressed their dismay, saying, “It is a mockery to keep us here in Bogotá with hope... What do we do with the pain caused to our children?” The travel ban, which affects nationals from several countries including Venezuela, was cited as a national security measure by the Trump administration, as reported by Newsweek, India Times, and Reuters.

The State Department has indicated that it is currently reviewing the visa denial to verify whether proper procedures were followed and if there were any necessary appeals submitted by the team. This development has raised questions regarding the fairness of such travel restrictions impacting young athletes who have worked hard to represent their country on an international platform. While there are provisions for athletes attending major events like the Olympics, it appears that youth competitions do not receive the same consideration, according to Newsweek, India Times, and Reuters.