Organizers of the 2026 Miss Universe pageant confirmed on Friday that at least three contestants—representing Zambia, South Sudan and Mali—have been forced to withdraw after failing to obtain U.S. visas under the Trump administration’s expanded country-based travel restrictions. The pageant’s final round is scheduled for 18 November in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory subject to federal immigration rules. Pageant officials said applicants were refused under Presidential Proclamation 10347, which limits visitor visas for nationals of 26 countries deemed to have “elevated security or health risks.” The affected contestants had submitted documentation months in advance and were supported by national sponsors, but consular officers cited a blanket ineligibility. The episode illustrates the collateral impact of broad travel bans on cultural, sporting and business events that depend on timely visitor-visa processing. Similar restrictions have recently complicated attendance at U.S. trade shows and academic conferences, leading some organizers to relocate to Canada or the United Kingdom. Companies planning incentive trips or global-talent programs that involve participants from sanctioned countries should build alternative itineraries and allow for last-minute substitutions. Immigration attorneys recommend seeking National Interest Waivers where possible, but caution that approval rates remain below 15 percent for the affected nationalities.
Source: Associated Press
