Trump administration bars prominent Spanish politician from Puerto Rico after Gaza flotilla activism

Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau on Wednesday accused US President Donald Trump’s administration of preventing her from traveling to Puerto Rico because of her activism against Israel’s war in Gaza, Anadolu reports.

“Milei can enter Spain to talk about cuts, but those of us who denounce genocide and defend human rights cannot enter the US, or other territories it has appropriated through colonialism,” Colau wrote on Instagram, referring to Argentine President Javier Milei’s visit to Spain.

Colau, a candidate for the left-wing Frente Amplio alliance in Spain’s forthcoming general election, criticized Trump’s immigration policies and accused him of disregarding Puerto Rico’s sovereignty.

“What a curious kind of freedom Trump defends,” she wrote, accusing the US president of deciding the fate of Puerto Rico’s residents and barring people who participated in a humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza from traveling.

Colau vowed to continue opposing right-wing leaders, including Trump, Milei, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Spain’s Vox leader Santiago Abascal.

“Sooner rather than later, we will put an end to this reactionary wave,” she wrote, adding that she hoped to return to Puerto Rico.

Colau had planned to attend an event on local government in Puerto Rico but was denied travel authorization by US authorities, Spanish news outlet El Diario reported on Wednesday.

She told the newspaper that she believed the decision was politically motivated and linked to her participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in October 2025.

“I went to Puerto Rico two years ago and had no problems,” she said.

READ: Spain’s National Court opens probe into Israeli military officials over Gaza flotilla interception

Colau described it as “extremely serious” that the Trump administration was “fortifying borders in an arbitrary, authoritarian and undemocratic manner.”

According to the newspaper, US authorities initially rejected her application under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which allows eligible foreign nationals to travel to the US without obtaining a visa.

Other members of her delegation received authorization without difficulty.

Colau subsequently sought an appointment at the US Embassy in Spain to request a review of the decision.

She said embassy officials questioned her about whether she had been arrested or had a criminal record, as well as whether she had traveled to Israel.

Colau told the officials that she had traveled to Israel as part of a peaceful humanitarian mission and had been detained by Israeli forces before being returned to Spain.

The embassy ultimately rejected her request, citing concerns that she intended to immigrate to the US, she told El Diario.

Colau disputed that explanation, maintaining that the decision was connected to her participation in the Gaza aid flotilla.

More than 400 activists, including Colau, were detained and held for four days. She subsequently accused Israeli forces of mistreating participants during their detention, alleging that they were subjected to insults, physical aggression, sleep deprivation and restrictions on access to water and medication.