In a surprise move, the Obama administration declined to extend a valid, P1 work visa for Gal Mekel, an Israeli NBA free agent.
The Indiana Pacers met with Mekel on Nov. 5 to discuss imminently signing the third year guard, yet because of the State Department’s refusal, “to move up the expiration date on Mekel’s visa even by one day, the Pacers, who had only 9 players on their active roster, backed out of the deal to sign another player before their waiver lapsed,” reports Breitbart.
Normally, work visas for international players automatically transfer from team to team, but when Mekel was waived by the Mavericks in October, his visa expired.
Mekel is one of only two Israeli players in the NBA, the other being Sacramento’s Omri Casspi, and his is the only case many NBA analysts can point to where an expired work visa prohibited a club from signing an international player.
According to The Daily Caller’s very own Neil Munro, “President Barack Obama unilaterally will award work permits to more than four million foreigners, most of whom are now living illegally in the United States.” (RELATED: Obama Looks To Skip Out On 5 Mil. Deportations Through Executive Order)
Obama also announced on Monday that he plans to double the terms for visas provided to Chinese students and workers in the United States.
So why did his administration refuse to extend Mekel’s visa by even a single day, as is traditionally the case with international players?
It certainly wasn’t because Mekel’s play fell below the acceptable standard for NBA guards. Coming off a knee injury in the second half of the 2013-2014 season, Mekel was impressive this pre-season. In fact, he put up 19 points and 9 rebounds against the Pacers on Oct. 18, hence their interest in signing him.
In reality, the Obama administration didn’t extend Mekel the same in-name-only courtesy provided to past NBA players because of the president’s continually worsening relationship with Israel, Mekel’s home country. (RELATED: Alleged Transcripts Show Obama As Hostile Towards Israel)
The only reason Gal Mekel is being denied the opportunity to earn a livelihood by performing a craft he has dedicated his life to is because the president can’t admit he’s wrong? (RELATED: There’s A ‘Crisis’ Between President Obama And Israel Because The President Is Wrong)
This is beginning to get ridiculous. I take that back. This WAS ridiculous from the onset and is now becoming — dare I say it — RACIST!
Obama, you’re the real “chicken shit.” Do the decent thing, for once, and admit you’re wrong.
In the meantime #FreeMekel