Ana Candida Evora, the mother of of Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha, poses for a photograph with other family members, during an interview with Reuters, at her home in Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Cape Verde, June 16, 2026. REUTERS/Davidson Alves TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Congress secures visa for Cape Verde goalkeeper's mother
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- Goalkeeper’s mother cleared for US travel after intervention
- $15k visa bond initially blocked her trip
- Jeffries and Rubio secured visa bond waiver
- Family to reunite before Uruguay match
- Case fuels criticism of Trump immigration policies
Ana Candida Evora, the mother of Cape Verde national team goalkeeper Josimar "Vozinha" Dias, will be permitted to travel to the United States to watch her son compete in the World Cup after top congressional leaders and the US State Department intervened to waive thousands of dollars in restrictive visa fees.
The emergency diplomatic resolution follows an emotional post-match revelation by Vozinha on Monday.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper for the underdog Cape Verde squad wept during a press conference after delivering a stunning seven-save performance to secure a historic 0-0 draw against tournament favorites Spain.
Vozinha revealed that his mother had been barred from attending the tournament because his family could not afford the mandatory $15,000 visa bond currently required by the U.S. government.
Bipartisan action
The public revelation caught the attention of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York), who immediately contacted Secretary of State Marco Rubio to resolve the administrative bottleneck.
"No mother should miss the chance to see her child make history," Jeffries said in an official statement on Wednesday, confirming that Evora's visa has been approved in time for her to see Cape Verde face off against Uruguay this coming Sunday. "All fees have been waived consistent with official policy. Travel arrangements are now being made for mother and son to reunite in Miami."
A State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that global World Cup athletes, team members, and their direct relatives are legally eligible for official visa bond waivers.
Jeffries publicly extended his gratitude to Secretary Rubio, the State Department, the government of Cabo Verde, and FIFA for coordinating the rapid turnaround.
Immigration disrupt World Cup
During President Donald Trump's second term, the administration implemented a hardline border policy requiring travelers from dozens of select developing nations to post a reimbursable security bond of up to $15,000 to obtain temporary US visitor visas.
While intended to curb visa overstays, the policy has repeatedly upended operations for international squads trying to navigate the North American tournament.
The stringent restrictions have drawn sharp condemnation from congressional Democrats, who argue that the administration's severe vetting protocols are actively harming the United States' standing as a global host.
Last week, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-California) warned that aggressive immigration behavior is clouding the nation's performance, adding that a notable volume of international tourists are choosing to spend their travel dollars in Canada or Mexico instead.
