Friday, May 2, 2008

Student's family stuck in Venezuela: Visa snag means they won't see him graduate

After four years of hard work on a full scholarship at Westminster College in Fulton, Julio Noguera had made his parents proud back in Venezuela. They were planning to make their first trip to Westminster to meet his friends, professors and celebrate his graduation tomorrow -- until their U.S. tourist visas were denied. Noguera, 23, and some in the Westminster community see the visa denial as an example of punishing an innocent student for the political woes of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is known for using his country's oil wealth to counter U.S. influence in the region and for routinely taking jabs at U.S. President George W. Bush.

1 comment:

  1. This are fragnments from the article on that news

    ....When he heard of the visa rejection, Westminster President Barney Forsythe immediately got on the phone with the office of Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo.

    "We're mad at Venezuela, they're mad at us, but these are just normal people," Forsythe said of his decision to appeal to Bond for assistance in getting another visa interview in a waiting line that usually takes

    Did he say "we are mad, They're mad at us?,
    I can't believe that, why?
    Because, it is a childish behavior, even if there was a political issue on all going between these two nations, this shouldn't be happening,Obviously all the verbal criticism or free speech regarding the behavior of that empire throughout the years around the world, has translated into a madness issue from that part, incredible.

    Do you know what?, in spite of the fact of all name calling that this State Department officials freely say of Venezuela before the world everytime when they have their own opportunity and the continous threat to put us on a list like they wish, still U.S. citizens can travel to Venezuela without a Visa.
    At this very moment there could be U.S. citizens on their way to Venezuela to visit sons or daughters for their graduation too or just for visit, lucky for them they didn't need a Visa, right?.
    No reason for this parents from Venezuela to be mad or left behind?.

    Once again, our World leader on fairness and Equality.

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