US Revokes Visas for Most of La Nación’s Board, While Deportation Deal Remains Unverified

TL;DR: The United States revoked tourist visas for five of La Nación’s seven board members, confirming that more than half lost entry permission. The remaining two board members are from visa‑free countries, making the second claim true. The assertion that President Chaves agreed to accept up to 25 deported migrants per week from the United States cannot be verified with available sources.

Claim 1: The U.S. State Department cancelled tourist visas for more than half of La Nación’s board members.

Evidence: Reports from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists state that five of the seven board members had their U.S. tourist visas revoked. Multiple outlets, including the New York Times and MSN, have confirmed this number.

Verdict: True.

Analysis: Five out of seven exceeds half, so the claim holds. No contradictory evidence appears in the reviewed sources, and the revocations are described by La Nación’s board president as an indirect attack on press freedom.

Claim 2: Five of La Nación’s seven board members had their U.S. visas revoked, and the remaining two are citizens of visa‑free countries.

Evidence: La Nación’s board president, Pedro Abreu, said five members lost their visas and the other two hold passports from countries that do not require a U.S. visa. The ICIJ report corroborates the visa revocations, and independent checks show those two passports are from visa‑exempt nations.

Verdict: True.

Analysis: The numbers match exactly, and the visa‑free status of the remaining members is consistent with their nationalities. No sources dispute either part of the statement.

Claim 3: In the previous month, President Rodrigo Chaves agreed that the United States would deport up to 25 migrants per week to Costa Rica.

Evidence: None of the retrieved web sources mention a specific agreement on migrant deportations. The only reference appears in the article making the claim, without corroboration from government statements, news agencies, or official releases.

Verdict: Unverifiable.

Analysis: Lack of independent corroboration prevents a definitive truth assessment. While the claim appears in the reporting, no external source confirms the alleged weekly deportation figure.

Observers will monitor whether further visa restrictions target other Costa Rican critics and how the incoming administration under President‑elect Laura Fernández handles press freedom issues.