US revokes visa of AMLO's son, prompting Mexican backlash

The United States revoked the U.S. visa of Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, son of former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on Thursday, prompting a sharply worded appeal to President Donald Trump and criticism from current President Claudia Sheinbaum, who called the move "political" and an act of interference in Mexican affairs Source: AP News. López Beltrán, known as "Andy," announced the revocation in a letter posted on Instagram, accusing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau of ordering the withdrawal "in the Hitlerian style" and calling it a "crude and perverse act of villainy" Source: Mexico News Daily. The U.S. government has not publicly disclosed the reason for the revocation, and a U.S. Embassy spokesperson declined to comment, citing confidentiality Source: AP News.

Context and reaction

The visa revocation is part of a broader U.S. crackdown on Mexican politicians with alleged ties to drug cartels, which has included charges against Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and visa revocations for over 50 Morena-linked officials Source: Mexico News Daily. Sheinbaum, who has sought to maintain a cooperative but sovereign relationship with Washington, said at her Friday press conference that the revocations have "political meaning" and are "attempts to interfere, to meddle in Mexican politics" Source: Los Angeles Times. She urged the U.S. to provide evidence of any allegations but said the issue would not lead to a conflict Source: AP News.

Disagreements

Sources differ on the motivation behind the revocation. López Beltrán and Sheinbaum characterize it as politically motivated, while the Trump administration frames it as part of a crackdown on individuals linked to cartels Source: Al Jazeera. The U.S. has not confirmed the revocation, and the State Department has not publicly responded Source: Al Jazeera.