On the social network X, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau presents himself as a defender of democracy. His online persona is a combination of Superman, Boy Scout and Batman. He even uses his own version of the “bat signal,” with the State Department logo projected over the Spanish words “El Quitavisas” (“the visa remover”). His alter ego – with the help of far-right politicians, journalists, online users, bots and provocateurs – has taken on the mission of revoking the visas of all foreign citizens he believes are acting against US interests.
Two recent targets of this practice include Arlín Medrano, a pro-Palestinian activist, and Salvador Ramírez, former coordinator of Social Communications for Mexico’s ruling MORENA party in the Chamber of Deputies. Both Mexican citizens agree that Washington runs a machine that seeks to criminalize dissent and different ideologies.
Landau operates in a draconian manner on X. His style is reminiscent of the dystopian society described by George Orwell in his novel, 1984. For example, his Orwellian eye focused on comments “glorifying violence and hatred” following the murder of MAGA youth leader Charlie Kirk. “I was disgusted to see anyone on social media praising, rationalizing or doing light of the event and we have directed our consular officials to take appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments from foreigners to my attention so that @StateDept can protect the American people,” I posted on X.
Ramírez, 26, was born in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes. A few weeks ago I participated in a roundtable on a national television network. In his remarks, he alluded to the killing of Kirk – an ally of Donald Trump – who was shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University. The youth leader, who campaigned for the Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election, has been a staunch defender of the right to bear arms. MORENA’s then-coordinator stated that Kirk “had a taste of his own medicine… (as) someone who promoted the use of firearms.” Faced with a wave of reactions, including from Landau, Ramírez resigned from his position. He then publicly apologized to the Deputy Secretary of State and to the American people.
A little more than a month after the accident, Ramírez reflects on what happened. From his apartment in Mexico City, he tells EL PAÍS that the US government’s reaction is not personal, but rather a “direct, deliberate and interventionist disciplinary method” that the neighboring northern country is exercising against Mexico and Latin America.
He still blames himself for his statements. He says it was an “ethical and moral” mistake on his part, since he considers himself “very humanist”. However, he adds that his words were “taken out of context”. He criticizes the US position, especially since the country claims to be the embodiment of “freedom”.
“Why does the United States have to censor what we say in Mexico, what we say in our own region?” he asks. “We shouldn’t worry if our words will disturb them. It’s terrible. If we don’t say what they want, they subjugate us with this modern, digital (form of) disciplining (people).”
Ramírez doesn’t want to talk about his current immigration status. He says he Done receive a media notification, but nothing official. “I didn’t check, because I found that the issue of my visa is not the most important thing,” he emphasizes.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Medrano, originally from the Mexican state of Nayarit, was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, one of the missions attempting to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also had a digital clash with Landau on X.
Having returned to Mexico along with five other Mexican citizens following her repatriation from Israel, the Political Science and Public Administration student at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) declared on social media that the United States is a “genocidal state” that practices “ethnic cleansing” against Mexicans. He was referring to ICE raids and detention of undocumented immigrants in that country. The post provoked an immediate response from Landau, with the announcement that the young woman’s visa would be revoked. Hours later, he reiterated his position and said that “if telling the truth keeps me from entering your country, I wear it like a badge of honor.”
Palestine is far from us when we have the Genocid4 State as our neighbor, which is carrying out ethnic cleansing together with our Mexican brothers.
— Arlin Medrano (@arlinmedrano_) October 15, 2025
Medrano spoke with EL PAÍS at the Gate of Resistance and Life, an “anti-monument” honoring Palestine, located near the Benito Juárez hemicycle, in Mexico City’s Alameda Central Park. She tells this newspaper that she has never applied for a US visa since she was deported at age 12, when she and her mother were treated like criminals simply because they were “looking for a better life.”
“The visa really serves no purpose. I understand that it is essential for those who need to go (to the United States) to study or work. We (should) never criminalize any type of migration, but it is important to stop placing such significant weight on going to the United States,” he says.
“No one emigrates for pleasure,” he adds. “Migration always arises from a need linked to the exploitation of the Global South – our own countries – by the Global North”.
Medrano believes that Landau’s position and that of the United States are “one machine” that seeks to criminalize protest, dissent and different ways of thinking, as in the case of Palestine. “We have seen how, all over the world, the far right is intolerant of criticism. This at the same time creates a dilemma… (there is) a lack of agreement on what is happening in the world. And we are not just talking about Palestine, but also about our migrant brothers and sisters, from the Global South, as well as what happens almost every week in Latin America, where we see different forms of interventionism,” he clarifies.
Medrano says it’s essential to understand the importance of social media. In this context, people have been led to believe that dissenting voices do not matter, but, at the same time, authorities like Landau struggle to “own” them.
“We see how biased the algorithm is. And, at the same time, (we can see) the value of our posts; we are certainly listened to by the main decision-makers. It is essential to raise our voice, but not only on social media: even if it is necessary, it is not enough. We must take to the streets, we must protest. And we must continue to look for spaces for dissent and spaces to reach new audiences,” he adds.
Both Ramírez and Medrano agree that despite the current political situation, with the United States applying pressure through tariffs to impose its agenda and interests, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration has been able to deal with the turbulent situations that Trump has placed in front of it.
The American embassy in Mexico, through a statement published on X, attempted to clarify some important points regarding the cancellation of visas. He stresses that the visa “is a privilege” and not a right. The same statement indicates that this permission can be revoked at any time, when circumstances warrant. It notes that the State Department may cancel a visa if it determines that the holder has committed certain violations, such as overstaying the authorized period in the United States, engaging in criminal activity, posing a risk to public safety, engaging in terrorism-related activity, or supporting terrorist groups. “For privacy reasons these decisions are not made public. The person concerned is informed directly,” said David Arizmendi, spokesman for the US embassy.
Despite the derision that both have received on social media, including from some sectors of the Mexican population and from those opposed to MORENA, Ramírez believes that what happened to him or Medrano could happen to anyone. Meanwhile, leaks periodically emerge about government officials’ visa cancellations, stirring up a hornet’s nest in Mexican politics. The Sheinbaum administration has sought to downplay the alleged lists circulating.
Meanwhile, Landau keeps an eye out for the bat signal revoking the visa. It seems that he sees everything, to protect the interests of the United States.
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