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Emigration and immigration

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka's US Visa Revocation Sparks Concerns Over Immigration Policies

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka has been at the center of a controversy after his non-resident visa to the United States was rejected, with the 91-year-old Nigerian author expressing his belief that the decision might be linked to his recent criticism of US President Donald Trump. Soyinka, who has previously taught in the US and held a green card, had destroyed his green card in 2017 as a protest against Trump's inauguration. The letter informing him of the visa revocation cites "additional information became available after the visa was issued" as the reason, but Soyinka suspects it may be due to his comparison of Trump to Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka's non-resident visa to the US has been rejected, with the author believing it may be linked to his criticism of President Donald Trump.
  • Soyinka, 91, has previously taught in the US and held a green card, which he destroyed in 2017 as a protest against Trump's inauguration.
  • The letter informing Soyinka of the visa revocation does not provide a clear reason, but Soyinka suspects it may be linked to his comparison of Trump to Idi Amin.
  • The US Consulate in Nigeria has directed all questions to the State Department press office, which has not responded to requests for comment.
  • Soyinka is not interested in reapplying for a visa and believes the decision reflects the US's immigration policies.
  • Soyinka has joked that his previous green card "had an accident" and "fell between a pair of scissors," and has expressed his commitment to speaking out against what he sees as injustices.

Statistics:

  • Soyinka's non-resident visa was rejected.
  • He has previously held a green card.
  • The green card was revoked in 2017 after Soyinka destroyed it in protest of Trump's inauguration.
  • Soyinka's visa revocation letter cited "additional information became available after the visa was issued" as the reason.
  • 1971: The year Idi Amin took power in Uganda.
  • 1979: The year Idi Amin was overthrown.
  • 1986: The year Soyinka won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
  • 2017: The year Soyinka destroyed his green card in protest against Trump's inauguration.

Sources:

  • The Associated Press, "Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka says his US visa has been rejected" (no publication date).

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