Democrat urges US to grant visa to Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha's mother

U.S. House of Representatives Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do everything possible to ensure that the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha can travel to the United States to watch her son play in the World Cup.

Ana Candida Evora was unable to attend the goalless draw against Spain because of the high cost of a visa bond required under regulations introduced by the Trump administration. In January, Cape Verde was added to a list of countries whose citizens must post bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S., a measure aimed at preventing visa overstays.

Last month, Washington dropped the requirement for World Cup ticket holders, saying it wanted to facilitate legitimate travel for the tournament. But by then, the high costs had already discouraged Evora from attempting the 6,400-kilometer trip to Atlanta.

"I would have loved to travel and watch the match, but it was not possible," she said.

Jeffries expressed outrage on social media, stating, "No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history. I have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to do everything in his power to ensure that she can attend the next match on Sunday."

A State Department official noted that Evora had not applied for a visa, but relatives of players are eligible for bond waivers. The official said Washington is "actively reaching out to this player's family to assist with visa services."

Vozinha, whose real name is Josimar Dias, impressed the world by keeping a clean sheet against Spain in Cape Verde's World Cup debut on Monday. He broke down in tears after the match, explaining that his emotions were tied to his mother's absence due to visa issues.

"Also, my mum, she didn't manage to be here because of the visa. The money for the visa, we didn't manage on time, and I would like her to be here," he said.

The tournament has seen other immigration problems: Somali referee Omar Artan was banned from entering the U.S. to officiate, and several Iranian team staff were denied visas. Mario Semedo, president of the Cape Verde football federation, noted that travel, accommodation, and ticket costs are major hurdles for fans from smaller nations. "If a player's family member wants to attend the tournament, every effort should be made to facilitate that," he added.