Mexican Governor Says US Officials Revoked Her and Husband’s Visas

The governor of Baja California and her husband did not say why.

U.S. Marines from 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, deploy concertina wire along the southern border wall near San Ysidro, Calif., Feb. 4, 2025. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Caleb Goodwin)

The governor of the Mexican border state of Baja California said on May 11 that the U.S. visas of both her and her husband have been withdrawn.

Carlos Torres, husband of Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Ávila—both of whom are in the ruling Morena Party—wrote on Facebook that he was told by American consular officials that his U.S. nonimmigrant visa was revoked.

“It should be noted that my conscience is calm and I am sure that the situation will be resolved favorably,” he said in his post, noting that he has “contacted an international immigration law specialist who is evaluating the submission of a motion to reopen or reconsider the decision.”

A day later, Ávila wrote on social media platform X that her visa had also been revoked.

“My husband Carlos has faced a situation, and as in every shared life, that circumstance has also reached me,” she wrote. “Shortly after the consular measure was applied to him, I received a similar notification. I am sure and fully trust that the situation will be clarified satisfactorily for both of us.”

Neither Torres nor Ávila have publicly revealed why their visas were withdrawn, nor whether U.S. officials gave them a reason.

Avila wrote on social media platform X, “I say this with absolute clarity: Carlos has always acted with integrity, dedication, and a deep commitment to Baja California. My support for him isn’t just personal, it’s moral and political. Because I know who he is and because he has always stood up and taken responsibility for things that aren’t his.”

On May 12, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters in a daily press conference that she was unaware of why the couple’s visas had been revoked, saying she would follow up with U.S. officials.

“We are going to wait ... before issuing any communication,” said Sheinbaum, who also belongs to the Morena Party.

Baja California, which borders California, has significant commercial ties between the cities of Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego. The San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana is considered the busiest land border crossing between the two countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a May 2 post, issued from a State Department account on X, that having a “visa is a privilege, not a right” and that there is a “one-strike policy” on breaking U.S. laws.

“Whenever the government catches non-U.S. citizens breaking our laws, we will take action to revoke their [visa] status,” the post reads.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy told the Associated Press that visa records are confidential and cannot be publicly discussed.

The Epoch Times has contacted the U.S. Embassy in Mexico for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.