On Friday, the Senegal women’s national basketball team had to cancel a 10-day training trip to the U.S. after America denied its members visas.
According to the Senegalese Basketball Federation, the training camp, scheduled for June 22nd – July 3rd, was canceled after visas for five players, six staff members and a ministerial delegation were rejected.
“Informed of the refusal of issuing visas to several members of the Senegal women’s national basketball team, I have instructed the Ministry of Sports to simply cancel the 10-day preparatory training initially planned in the United States of America,” wrote Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko in a statement posted to Facebook in French.
This news comes on the heels of this administration instituting a travel ban on 12 countries and visa restrictions on 7 others. While Senegal was not on that original list, last week it was reported that the administration was considering a ban on 36 additional countries, which would include Senegal.
The travel ban mentions exemptions for global events like the World Cup and the Olympics, which are scheduled to be in the United States in 2026 and 2028, respectively.
It also includes any “other major sporting event,” but doesn’t include details of what constitutes a “major” event.
While the reported ban on the additional countries has not gone into effect, the impact is obvious, and it isn’t T***p’s first direct attack on Africa either.
In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed in a post on X that he was targeting South Sudan.
“I am taking actions to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and to restrict any further issuance to prevent entry into the United States, effective immediately, due to the failure of South Sudan’s transitional government to accept the return of its repatriated citizens in a timely manner,” wrote Rubio.
That had a direct impact on sports as Duke freshman star and South Sudan native, Khaman Maluach was set to play Houston in the Final Four, and not knowing his legal status must have been a heavy load to shoulder.
While he played in the game, it was proof that this administration’s inhumane policies had officially arrived in sports.
We warned this would happen last year in this story regarding how the anti-DEI movement could easily infiltrate sports through false narratives and pressure fueled by hate.
The situation involving the Senegal women’s basketball team is another alarming example that proves this administration’s hate knows no bounds.
Over the last few months, T***p increased his attacks on education and the ability of foreign students to attend institutions in the U.S.
Then last week, in a since-deleted social media post, the Department of Homeland Security announced they would be present at FIFA World Cup Club games across the country.
“Let the games begin,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted and then deleted. “The first FIFA Club World Cup games start on June 14 in Miami, FL at the Hard Rock Stadium. CBP will be suited and booted ready to provide security for the first round of games.”
Earlier this week, this administration announced that it will begin processing visa applications for foreign students and visiting scholars but that their social media accounts will be reviewed and must be set to “public.”
When you add this all together, the message and impact is clear.
No one, no matter the look, gender, homeland, culture, country or sport, is safe in T***p’s America.
