Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera suggested to congresswoman Patsy Lee that she reapply for her visa to confirm whether her immigration permit is still valid. The controversy erupted following rumours of revocation linked to her ties with China.
The United States Ambassador to Panama, Kevin Marino Cabrera, has publicly urged congresswoman Patsy Lee to submit a new visa application to clarify the actual status of her immigration permit. The statement, made on Wednesday, July 15, comes after the legislator denied rumours regarding the cancellation of her US visa.
During a meeting with the media, Cabrera was asked about the legislator's case. Although he recalled that the embassy does not discuss individual cases, he considered that the congresswoman herself had opened the debate by speaking on the matter. The diplomat defended the sovereign right of the United States to "approve, revoke, and cancel visas" based on national security.
"She would like to say that it expired, but they can take it away from you before it expires... if she has doubts, let her apply again to see her results," Cabrera stated.
The congresswoman's version and the political context
The controversy erupted on Tuesday, July 14, when reports circulated about an alleged revocation of Patsy Lee's visa, who recently joined the Vamos coalition. The news coincided with her participation in the formation of the Parliamentary Friendship Group of Panama with the People's Republic of China.
In response to the allegations, the congresswoman acknowledged that she had been warned that "measures could be taken" against her visa due to her association with this group. However, she asserted that the document had expired at the beginning of this year and that, by her own decision, she chose not to renew it.
"They can't take away something I don't have because I decided not to renew it myself," Lee argued.
Implications for the reader and next steps
The clash of narratives makes it clear that the congresswoman's immigration status remains under scrutiny. US authorities have the final say on her entry into the country, and the ambassador's invitation to apply for a new visa is a move that Lee will need to consider. For Panamanian citizens with American visas, this case serves as a reminder that the United States can revoke permits without prior notice if security risks are detected.
The congresswoman has not confirmed whether she will accept Cabrera's challenge. Meanwhile, the controversy keeps the Panamanian public on edge, closely following the relations between the country and the United States in a context of certain politicians' rapprochement with China.
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