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By Marni Rose McFall
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The mayor of a northern Mexican border city has said U.S. authorities revoked his visa.
Juan Francisco Gim, the mayor of Nogales, which borders Arizona, said in a video posted on X, "The United States government has taken a measure regarding my immigration status, which I respect."
Newsweek has contacted Gim for comment via email.
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Why It Matters
The Trump administration has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history and has authorized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct raids around the county. Some immigration enforcement actions have been perceived as heavy-handed, sparking protests in various cities.
The Trump administration's hard-line immigration approach has affected not only undocumented migrants but also immigrants residing in the U.S. legally and even tourists. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from June 11 to 12 found that 52 percent of respondents favored increased deportations, with 49 percent believing the administration had gone too far.
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What To Know
In the video, Gim said, "I want to speak to you with absolute transparency about the situation regarding my visa."
He added that the U.S. government had taken "measures" regarding his immigration status, which he said he respected. He did not specify why his visa was revoked but said it was part of an "administrative process."
"I continue to work normally and with the same intensity," Gim said in the video, adding, "I even participate in binational meetings on security issues."
"I remain calm and have a clear conscience because I have not been accused of anything improper. That is why I am still here. I am confident that time will prove me right," he said.
Later in the video, he asked people "not to engage in political confrontations" and encouraged people to "work together."
Gim previously praised U.S. President Donald Trump's deportations, telling Fox News in June that the U.S.'s new immigration policy was "cleaning house."
"Maybe, eventually they'll say, 'Now let's recruit, but in accordance with my new rules,'" the mayor said, adding, "I think that's what [President Trump] is doing, and I think it would be what's correct."
He continued: "We have to work hand in hand together, because we are a neighboring country. So these challenges must be converted into areas of opportunity."
What People Are Saying
Juan Francisco Gim, the mayor of Nogales, said in a video posted on X: "This is not a manhunt or a scandal. This is an administrative process that I am facing responsibly and with respect. I continue to work normally and with the same intensity. I am in my office fulfilling my duties. I am addressing urgent and important issues for our city, even participating in binational meetings on security issues, because Nogales does not have to stop, much less me."
What Happens Next
Whether Gim will be able to access a new visa or whether similar revocations will happen to other Mexican officials remains to be seen.
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