The Mexican film Roma deservedly nabbed an impressive 10 nominations for this year's Academy Awards, including one for Best Picture.
Unfortunately, not everyone involved in the film will be able to celebrate the film's accolades at the Oscars.
Mexican actor Jorge Antonio Guerrero Martínez, who stars in the Alfonso Cuarón film as Fermin in the highly acclaimed movie about a working-class housekeeper's relationship with her surrogate family, will not be able to attend the awards ceremony due to U.S. officials denying him a visa.
@SenToomey @SenBobCasey #Trump 1. AWFUL 'Roma' Actor Jorge Antonio Guerrero Martinez Denied U.S. Visa to Attend Osc… https://t.co/8xEK88S4AD— Ursula1781 (@Ursula1781) 1548550540.0
Guerrero said he was also unable to obtain a visa for screenings and other industry events taking place in the U.S., even after providing a letter submitted by one of Roma's producers proving he had official invitations, according to Mexican lifestyle magazine Quien,
He said:
"Specifically, I took a letter and they refused to read it."
"On my second attempt, they said I was going to go work, and I said that, no, I had been invited."
Guerrero told the Mexican entertainment program De Primera Mano that the letters written by Cuarón and Netflix – which produced the film – went unread.
"I tried giving it to the consul, they grabbed the paper and literally just returned my passport through the teller window. If they don't want to read it, then it's going to be very difficult."
Speculations about racism began to surface, given this wasn't the first time his request for a visa fell through. The actor, who also starred in Narcos: Mexico, was denied a visa last year when he applied to enter the U.S. as a tourist.
Despite rumors of racism barring him from entering the country, he told Mexican daily El Universal that he didn't feel "offended, angry or victimized," because he was aware of other Mexicans experiencing the same situation.
However, plenty of people expressed their frustrations.
This is wrong on so many levels. “They refused to read it.” https://t.co/DtRi1Wt5RT— Darryl Wharton-Rigby (@Darryl Wharton-Rigby) 1548661890.0
I feel safer don't you. Actors are scary dangerous people. "Alfonso Cuarón’s 1970s drama “Roma” is a critical dar… https://t.co/Zyexy42fHb— ImmgtnRightsActivist (@ImmgtnRightsActivist) 1548463216.0
Talk about racial profiling. If he had been a tall, white, blue-eyed Mexican - the type that proliferate in Mexican… https://t.co/x1rOQuckcf— KernCFC (@KernCFC) 1548635745.0
Totally...disgusting! ENOUGH of the FASCIST Russian run Mob in the White House. WE THE PEOPLE HAVE HAD IT.. the m… https://t.co/uLqfD2iugX— Carol Miles (@Carol Miles) 1548607581.0
Wishful thinking for a different kind of Hollywood ending.
I hope he wins and whomever accepts for him. clowns the hell out of Trump. https://t.co/iBELmh2V3i— David Scott Anderson (@David Scott Anderson) 1548559555.0
Jorge Antonio Guerrero Martinez, this is a reflection of our failure, not your value. You deserve to be honored for… https://t.co/xdmOrArQgC— Katie Anthony (@Katie Anthony) 1548568231.0
@KhaledBeydoun This pains me. America used to be an active player in the world community, but we are drawing back from participation.— marc isaac potter (@marc isaac potter) 1548527737.0
What do actors smuggle in?
This is ridiculous, c'mon? Are we concerned that he will be smuggling drugs in his bow tie?!!🤔🤪 https://t.co/2UkwsWyu9S— Bob M (@Bob M) 1548533345.0
This is pure bullshit unless he’s bringing “drugs and crime” to America. https://t.co/mBGy2fvqlM— Caipo (@Caipo) 1548546393.0
😡I am so sick and tired of all this damn prejudice and bigotry displayed by the current administration! #Roma… https://t.co/CUIdYvqESD— Kathy Horn (@Kathy Horn) 1548530449.0
What's the point of celebrating movies featuring various cultures if the ones who made it are not welcome to the country?
The threat of indigenous beauty, of telling real stories and not Eurocentric narratives. An actor who only wishes t… https://t.co/LHXlY7c21C— Forget Winnetou Film (@Forget Winnetou Film) 1548568002.0
Blind sweeping backhand to common civility by isolationist U.S. Government. https://t.co/vu3oHvy45Q— Nancy Hill (@Nancy Hill) 1548699197.0
Guerrero isn't giving up. He hopes to finally receive access into the country by the time the Oscars take place at the end of February.
"I hope that this can be resolved in the best way. And I insist that if I don't go, I'll still be thrilled. It's 10 nominations, darn it."
"This doesn't happen every year!"
He additionally told Quien:
"If we could find a way for a person from the consulate or embassy to read these letters, they could understand the artistic need I have and the cultural exchange that's happening between two nations."
It would be a huge disappointment for him to miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity due to a stricter immigration policy that had been Trump's sticking point that inevitably contributed to the partial government shutdown.