Monday, July 12, 2010
Hollman Morris
Hollman Morris has earned a reputation as a hard-hitting investigative journalist in Colombia, exposing abuses by government officials and paramilitary groups. This body of work may be what’s keeping Morris from visiting the United States, according to human rights organizations who have accused the Obama administration of kowtowing to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and his government, who hate the reporter because of his exposés.
Morris applied for a U.S. student visa in order to accept a fellowship at Harvard University. But his application was denied, based on the “terrorist activities” section of the USA Patriot Act, he was told by American officials. The State Department, though, has offered no proof to show Morris is tied to any terrorist organizations.
Civil libertarians say the Morris case reminds them of the Bush administration, which
refused to grant visas to prominent Muslim academics. Ironically, the Obama administration rescinded those denials, only to now garner criticism for keeping Morris out of the country on questionable grounds.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
U.S. Denies Visa to Colombian Journalist Hollman Morris, Citing Patriot Act (by Juan Forero, Washington Post)
Colombian Journalists Track Guerrilla War (Contravía, Center for Investigative Reporting)
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