The United States Embassy in Port of Spain, Trinidad, has reiterated that a U.S. visa is a discretionary benefit following the recent revocation of a B1/B2 visa held by Gary Aboud, corporate secretary of the environmental NGO Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS).
In a November 23 post on the embassy’s social media page, visa chief Mike Mitchell underscored the consequences of violating U.S. laws.
“A UNITED STATES visa is a privilege, not a right,” he said. “Breaking US laws have serious consequences to visa holders. If you are arrested or violate any laws, your visa may be revoked. You may be deported and you could be ineligible for future US visas. Follow the rules and don’t jeopardise your travel. A US visa is a privilege, not a right.”
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Aboud recently revealed that his visa had been rescinded, despite receiving a ten-year renewal in December 2024. In an official notice issued last Thursday, the embassy informed him: “We are writing to notify you that your B1/B2 visa for travel to the United States has been prudentially revoked.”
The letter further stated, “This action is based on the fact that additional information became available after the visa was issued indicating that you may be inadmissible to the United States and therefore ineligible to receive a visa.”
The Trinidad and Tobago Government has since sought to distance itself from the U.S. decision. Aboud confirmed he had been told his visa was “prudentially revoked,” a determination communicated through an email the embassy described as “official notification.”
Aboud, who has publicly criticised the expanded U.S. naval presence near Venezuela, said FFOS has spent nearly three decades advocating for justice, environmental protection and support for vulnerable coastal communities. He argued that the revocation signals a worrying trend.
“Today, however, we face an alarming reality: NGOs are being silenced,” he said. He added that independent civil society organisations provide vital oversight and should not be targeted. FFOS noted that while it supports the prime minister in the lawful fight against arms and drug trafficking, it “will never condone unlawful killings.”
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar rejected any suggestion that her administration had a hand in the visa cancellation. In a statement on X, she stressed that visa and immigration decisions fall “solely within the jurisdiction” of the United States.
She also dismissed Aboud’s claim that NGOs are being muted. “Contrary to Mr Aboud’s assertions, non-governmental organisations are not being silenced. Such an inflammatory allegation is reckless, misleading and risks causing unnecessary fear,” she said, adding that her government remains committed to protecting free expression, even for political opponents.
