The United States Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago said all decisions on American visas rest solely with the United States government and not with any foreign authority.
The development follows weekend reports that Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander is enlisting the US Embassy’s support to counter US-based social media actors, some of whom hold dual citizenship, and who he claims are spreading propaganda and fear in Trinidad and Tobago.
It comes days after Secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS), Gary Aboud, revealed that his US visa had been revoked.
In a social media post, the Embassy said Washington controls all approvals, denials, and revocations, adding that no foreign government plays any role in the process.
It stressed that the United States does not revoke visas because someone exercises their right to free expression, which it described as a core national value.
However, the embassy said American visas can be denied or revoked when criminal activity is involved.
