Donald Trump has completely eliminated Romania from the Visa Waiver program! The first official reactions: “We regret this decision”

• The United States of America will host in the near future the most important sports competitions of the planet. In 2026, together with Mexico and Canada, they will organize the World Football Championship. In 2028, the Olympic games will move to Los Angeles.

“The Department of Internal Security, in consultation with the State Department, canceled the designation of Romania within the Visa Waiver (VWP) program,” announces a DHS statement.

Donald Trump/ Photo Imago Images

“Maintaining the high standards of the Visa Waiver program is essential for our national security. Given the emphasis placed by this administration on the security of border and immigration, the secretary of internal Security has decided, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to cancel the designation of Romania within the VWP with immediate effect,” said the Deputy Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Visa Waiver, forbidden to Romanians

Shortly after, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that “Romania has become aware that the national security department of the United States has made the decision to reconsider the inclusion of Romania in the Visa Waver program.”

Adding in the statement: “This possibility is provided in the Visa Waver agreement. The decision comes in the context in which the American authorities have made an absolute, political and technical priority, from the protection of border and the combating of illegal immigration.

We regret this decision given that Romania has fulfilled all the elements that the American law stipulates for accessing the Visa Waver program. However, this is a political decision that is at the latitude of the American authorities and reflects the priorities of the administration ”.

And the Romanian Government also reacted quickly, specifying that “it is ready to work with American partners to strengthen the borders of the United States. At the same time, the Government believes that the choice of a new president of Romania, following the elections of 4 and 18 May, can be the most important time for our country to ask the US partners to resume the Acceptance”.

The Executive transmitted that “Romanian citizens deserve the same treatment that citizens of other allied states have visa access to the American territory and, therefore, the Government of Romania will continue the diplomatic dialogue at the highest level for the rights of Romanians to be respected. “

But also that “the Government of Romania considers that it is essential for the American partners to convey all the technical details that were the basis of the temporary cancellation of the decision to enter Romania in the Visa Waiver program so that the Romanian authorities can prepare detailed answers on each subject.”