Days after Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander wrote to the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago asking for support in visa revocations within the country, the Embassy today put out a statement declaring that no foreign governments were involved in its visa related decisions.

Following the revocation of Trinidadian activist and businessman Gary Aboud’s US B1/B2 visa last week, the Embassy also stated that it does not revoke visas due to the exercise of the right to free expression, which it says is a cornerstone value of the United States.

“The United States does, however, revoke and deny visas based on criminal activity,” it stated.