Breaking: Visa rejections by US embassy prevent Ethiopia from entering full teams in jr races at 2026 World Cross Country Champs

Maybe they didn't have a proper ID and paperwork to get a Visa. It happens. Not everyone gets one.

Or are you saying Junior Cross Country is so important, to laws designed to protect the US and to be fair to everyone applying for Visas shouldn't apply.

If so, please provide your evidence.

Additionally, why are you afraid to use your own name on this running website?

No one is applying for a visa with an ID card. The 23 Ethiopian athletes who had their visa application denied all had a valid passport, their application was processed by their Federation, and the US Embassy did not provide any explanation for the visa rejection.

How is impeding some of the best athletes participating to a global championship "protect the US"? On the contrary, Trump’s erratic policies can only reinforce global resentment towards the United States.

and if only I can believe that the American are true Cross Country runners its like the stories saying that the American didn't walk on the moon (there was 12 of them to not be true).

American can walk on the moon but they can't run in a dirty valley.

You think this is bad? Wait till the Soccer World Cup begins and wait for the number of fans that will be denied entry.

THAT will be epic. And its a guarantee to happen.

Not a chance, the WC will be fine. No one cares about XC and didn’t make the effort to smooth their entry. That is a tragedy, but a big part of the blame lies within the sport’s infrastructure. The only people who know about World XC post here.

I didn't see in the article where it said they all had valid passports. I would appreciate it if you you highlight where it said that or a link to another source that says they had valid passports.

This isn’t a new thing and it extends to the coaches as well as the athletes. At the world champs in Eugene a few years ago. The coach of Letesenbet Gidey who won the 10000m at the event, was refused a visa. Letesenbet initially refused to travel to the USA unless her coach accompanied her. The Ethiopian federation eventually managed to talk her around.

Both Letesenbet and her coach are from Tigray ( many of the top female Ethiopians are from Tigray also) I’m wondering whether the fact that a fierce civil war took place in Tigray recently and by all accounts there is still a great deal of civil unrest and atrocities being perpetrated on the ground there. Perhaps the USA considers its residents more of a flight risk?

Well no crap, Trump’s people aren’t into running. I mean, if anyone in his administration saw a cross country race, they’d wonder where the gunman was. This is obviously about his racist immigration policies.

People from France and Spain don't need a visa to enter the US.

I believe Kelati is Eritrean, not Ethiopean.

Likely 214b refusals. "A 214(b) refusal means a U.S. nonimmigrant visa (like tourist, student) was denied because the applicant failed to prove strong ties to their home country, overcoming the legal presumption that they intend to immigrate, not just visit temporarily."

Visa officers are mandated to assume every applicant intends to migrate unless they can prove otherwise through strong ties to their home country. But young adults seldom have the kind of ties officers are looking for, like property owernership, a spouse or children in their home country, etc. In other words, there is really nothing compelling them to return.

For now. Visa is woke anyways. Everyone should travel with their body guards and special agents, and shoot their way in and out of every country.

Immigration officials + track officials (no matter the country) is a toxic mess. Just add the DMV and you would hit the trifecta of nonsense.

Following up, a valid passport has nothing to do whether or not someone is granted a visa. Almost everyone has a valid passport. It's just about whether or not the interviewing officer believes there is close to a 100% chance they will return before the visa expires.

Speaking like an expert. How many visas have you processed?

None, but I know a lot of people who have applied and some have been rejected even with all of their paperwork in order. It's all about proving strong ties to your homeland.

Being angry that our beloved sport is being tampered with by our gangster government is understandable. What I don't understand is how you can still care about sport at all given the far worse things the gangsters are up to, inside and outside the United States. Sports is just off the table for me now.