Colombian journalist denied entry into US

July 11, 2010 The Obama Administration has denied Colombian journalist entry into the United States, citing violation of the "terrorist activities" section of the USA's. Morris was attempting to obtain a visa to attend 's Nieman Program, which is a fellowship for journalists.

The journalist has called attention to ties between outgoing Colombian president, and right-wing militia groups in the war-plagued South American country. Human rights activists have speculated that Uribe might have influenced the visa denial. Morris' phone has also been tapped by the, the Colombian state security agency, which is Colombia's CIA counterpart.

Though the exact reason for Morris' visa denial is unclear, when Morris went on-site to cover the release of four Colombian security force members' release by rebels, Uribe called the journalist "an accomplice of terrorism".

After the news broke that Morris had been denied entry into the US, Robert Giles, curator of the Nieman Foundation and former newspaper editor, commented that "[w]e were very surprised. This has never happened before." Also in an interview Friday, Morris said "[i]f you have proof that I am a guerrilla, then why not put me in jail? Why just this campaign to discredit?"