Several Tongan pickleball players were unable to compete in an international tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah, after their United States visa applications were denied amid tighter US entry restrictions on Tongan nationals.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported the players had planned to join Team Kalia, an international pickleball club comprising players from Tonga, New Zealand and Australia, for a tournament against the predominantly Polynesian Die Hard Pickleballerz in Salt Lake City.
Team Kalia president Johnny Hafoka said eight players from Tonga were able to attend this year’s tournament, compared with 20 last year.
Those who made the trip were players who already held valid multiple-entry US visas and had previously travelled to the country.
The difficulties come as the Trump administration has tightened US entry and visa restrictions affecting Tongan nationals.
The US began partially restricting entry and visa issuance for Tongans in January, citing high rates of visa overstays. Tonga was the only Pacific island country included in the restrictions.
Tonga was also added to the US State Department’s visa-bond programme on January 21.
Under the programme, some Tongan visitors applying for US visas can be required to pay a bond of US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000 before receiving a visa, with the amount determined during the visa interview.
Hafoka said some players could not afford the bond and were therefore unable to make the trip.
Those who successfully travelled to Salt Lake City also faced scrutiny at the border.
Team Kalia coach Tosilani Sanft, who is from Tonga, told The Salt Lake Tribune he was questioned by US officials for about four hours after arriving at the airport.
Sanft said officials questioned his identity and reason for travelling and took his cellphone for inspection.
He said that even after explaining he had travelled to the US to play pickleball, the questioning continued, leaving him feeling officials were trying to get him to say he had come to work.
The tournament went ahead at Glendale Park with support from Salt Lake City’s large Tongan and Pacific Island community.
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune
