U.S. Rejects Entry for Senegalese Women's Basketball Team
Title: Trump's Travel Ban Derails Senegal's Women's Basketball Dreams
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Hear that squeak-squeak, it's the sound of Senegal's women's basketball dreams going up in smoke, thanks to the Trump administration's iron-fisted immigration policies. That's right, buddy, the FBI sneakily turned down a dozen visa applications from the Senegalese squad, torpedoing their chance to train for the African Championship on American soil.
The unlucky applicants? Five players and seven staff members, forming the heart and soul of the team. The US only decided to give exhausted visas a new lease of life, as reported. The team had been all pumped up for a 10-day training camp in the States before the Ivory Coast showdown in July. But no, the United Snakes (sorry, couldn't resist) had other plans.
Following the visa drama, Senegal's Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko took to Facebook, ordering the Minister of Sports to axe the training camp. Looks like the Senegalese squad will have to tighten their laces and gear up at home, in the capital Dakar, instead.
On cue, the US State Department kept mum on the matter, leaving us all scratching our heads. They couldn't comment on individual cases, you see. The US Embassy in Senegal didn't utter a peep either initially. But let's face it, we know who's calling the shots.
The Trump Administration, renowned for its xenophobic travel bans, recently dropped a ban on people from 12 countries. There are talks of this little list expanding to include 36 more countries, Senegal rumored to be one of them. Can you hear the whispers of "build that wall"?
According to the "Washington Post," they got their leaky hands on an internal memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sent to diplomats. If this ban gets expanded, close to 20% of the world's population would be living in a country affected by a travel ban. Woohoo, welcome to a world of fun and inclusion, folks!
In conclusion, it's looking like that travel ban ain't just a pesky paperwork issue - it's a declaration of war on the entire African continent. Time to stock up on those visa waivers, team Senegal!
Sources: ntv.de, ses/AFP
- Donald Trump
- USA
- Senegal
The European Union and its Member States might express concern over the ongoing politics surrounding the travel ban by the Trump administration, particularly its impact on the sports world, as it derailed Senegal's women's basketball team's training camp in the United States. This incident could be a subject of general-news discussion, with some raising questions about justice in regards to the visa applications. The crime-and-justice aspect could also be raised, considering the potential long-term consequences on sports teams and athletes from countries affected by travel bans. On the other hand, sports enthusiasts and analysts might delve into sports-analysis to evaluate the impact of these travel restrictions on international sports participation from countries like Senegal.
