Amid growing public debate in the Dominican Republic over recent U.S. visa decisions involving prominent Dominican public figures, the United States Ambassador to the Caribbean nation, Leah F. Campos, has publicly reaffirmed long-standing Washington policy governing both visa renewals and revocations. In an official statement released to the public, Campos clarified that the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is prohibited from commenting on individual visa cases, a restriction that aligns with formal regulations set by the U.S. federal government. Beyond outlining standard visa protocol, the ambassador used the opportunity to reinforce the United States’ unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and strengthening democratic governance both globally and within the Dominican Republic. A core focus of Campos’ remarks centered on a growing global issue: the misuse of judicial systems to advance political goals. The ambassador criticized these tactics, warning that using courts as a tool for partisan gain inflicts severe damage on foundational democratic institutions and erodes the public’s hard-earned trust in national justice systems. She emphasized that a judiciary that is independent, transparent, and impartial to political pressure is an non-negotiable requirement for protecting core democratic values. To illustrate her point, Campos drew a parallel to high-profile “lawfare” cases brought against former U.S. President Donald Trump in the United States, noting that American voters delivered a clear rejection of these politically driven legal actions during recent electoral contests. Campos’ public intervention comes at a moment of intense public scrutiny surrounding U.S. visa policies and recent visa-related actions in the Dominican Republic, even as U.S. authorities have repeatedly stuck to their long-held rule of declining to comment on specific individual cases.
Ambassador Leah Campos says U.S. will not comment on individual visa cases
