Luis Grijalva’s journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics highlights a less-discussed challenge for many immigrant athletes: visa issues. Despite living in the United States since he was a year old, Grijalva faced significant barriers due to his immigration status.
For years, Grijalva was protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While DACA allows recipients to stay in the U.S., it complicates international travel. In 2021, ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, Grijalva had to navigate a bureaucratic maze just to get permission to leave and re-enter the U.S.
The process was grueling and added stress during a critical period of his athletic career. For someone focused on competing at the highest level, the visa complications were an unnecessary burden.
In 2024, things changed for Grijalva when he secured an O-1 visa. This visa, designed for individuals with extraordinary abilities, allowed him to travel without restrictions. It also gave him the freedom to visit his birthplace, Guatemala, for the first time since he was a toddler.
While the O-1 visa solved Grijalva’s immediate problems, it raises questions about how many talented individuals are held back by similar issues. The process to obtain such a visa is difficult, requiring legal assistance and proof of exceptional talent—resources that not all athletes can access.
Grijalva’s story sheds light on the intersection of talent and immigration. While he succeeded in overcoming the hurdles, his experience is a reminder that many others remain trapped in a complex and often unforgiving system.
