The diplomatic dance between Panama and the United States took a sharp turn this week when Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera directly challenged a Panamanian legislator’s account of her visa status. The exchange highlights growing friction over Panama’s parliamentary ties with Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“She would like to say it expired, but they can take it away before it expires,” Cabrera said during a press conference. “If she doubts that, let her apply again and see what results she gets” [Translated from Spanish]. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The ambassador made it clear that the US Visa Revocation Authority<\/a> operates under strict sovereign prerogatives that do not require explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The controversy centers on Deputy Patsy Lee, a member of the Panama National Assembly<\/a> who serves on the Panama-China Parliamentary Friendship Group<\/a>. Lee claims her American visa expired naturally earlier this year and that she chose not to renew it. She insists the document was never revoked by US authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n“They cannot take away something I don’t have, because I myself decided not to renew it,” Lee stated publicly [Translated from Spanish]. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
She added that she received warnings about potential visa consequences before joining the pro-Beijing parliamentary group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cElla quisiera decir que se le expir\u00f3, pero te lo pueden quitar antes que se te expire\u2026 si ella duda, que aplique de nuevo para que vea sus resultados\u201d, expres\u00f3 este mi\u00e9rcoles el embajador de Estados Unidos en Panam\u00e1, Kevin Marino Cabrera, cuando se le pregunt\u00f3 sobre el caso de\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/LCfBTYRvNF<\/a><\/p>— Telemetro Reporta (@TReporta) July 15, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>