ONTARIO – The Empire Strykers are trying to build a championship team but it may be that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is standing in the way.
The Strykers have signed Genaro Castillo, the reigning MVP of the Major Arena Soccer League, but Castillo does not qualify for a work visa under current U.S. law and cannot play for the team.
“It is the USCIS’ contention that MASL is a non-major sports league within the U.S.,” Empire Stykers general manager Oliver King said. “That’s the biggest hurdle. They don’t see MASL as a major sports league (and) therefore believe the league does not require athletes of international recognition to compete.”
A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Castillo has starred the last two seasons for Monterrey Flash but has only traveled to the United States as an employee of a Mexican-based team on a non-U.S. issued business visa.
The tightening of visa restrictions on Latin Americans under the Trump administration and continued under the Biden administration has narrowed the definitions on eligibility, King said, no longer allowing for an MASL team to serve as the primary employment sponsor for lower level professional athletes.
“It’s crazy. It’s a problem that we’re definitely fighting,” Empire Strykers executive vice president Jimmy Nordberg said. “He has a transfer mark on him that shows you he’s a professional player, but we’re talking to people in the government who don’t even know what soccer is or who he is without looking into it.”
Legally, unless Castillo proves having made a significant contribution to his country’s national team or has won major international awards he cannot qualify for an O-1 visa, typically granted to non-immigrants with extraordinary ability or achievement in certain fields, including athletics.
“I am focused and convinced it can happen,” said Castillo through translation. “We are doing everything possible to make that happen.”
A P-1 or P-1A visa requires him to be “internationally recognized and entering the country to compete in an event of international significance,” according to the law.
Currently, only Major League Soccer and its teams are having success in petitioning for P-1 visas for international professional soccer players.
Since 2022, the Strykers have received six denials of new P-1 visa applications, including two denials to renew existing P-1s that were originally approved.
Former Strykers goalkeeper Claysson De Lima, from Brazil, was denied renewal of an existing P-1 despite winning MASL’s 2021 Goalkeeper of the Year award.
“It’s been frustrating for the last one to two years for everyone because every single one of our applications has been denied,” King said.
Calls to the USCIS field office in San Bernardino have not been returned.
Castillo, 31, has poured in 57 goals in 48 appearances for Monterrey during the last two seasons. A Tigres UANL academy product, Castillo made five appearances with the professional side in 2016-’17 and bounced around between clubs before the COVID-19 pandemic.
He scored three goals in seven games for Antigua GFC in Guatemala’s top league in 2021 before arriving at Monterrey Flash in 2022 and re-focusing his career.
“It’s my dream to be (in Ontario),” Castillo said. “I made it my goal since I started in the league (MASL) to do my best and join a big team like Empire.”
“He’s a stud player and we need him in this community,” Nordberg said. “He’s the ‘Pink Panther’ and he’s going to score loads of goals as soon as he gets here.”
Related Articles
Galaxy closes in on winning the Western Conference
Angel City FC’s Alyssa Thompson called up to USWNT team
Depleted USMNT loses to Mexico for first time since 2019
Mateusz Bogusz, Ilie Sánchez lead LAFC to 2-1 victory over Whitecaps
Christen Press scores 1st goal since 2-year injury layoff as Angel City ties North Carolina
Empire Strikers signed Castillo in June as a free agent, landing him amidst a flurry of signings as the team looks to challenge for the MASL’s Ron Newman Cup this season.
Calls to the league office have not been returned.
“Since I found out Empire was looking at me I did not hesitate to tell them, ‘Yes,’” Castillo said. “With the help of Marco (Fabian), we reached good terms and of course if the opportunity arises I would like to spend many years playing for the team.”
The MASL season begins Nov. 29. The Empire Strykers open at the Chihuahua Savage at Corner Sport Arena in Chihuahua, Mexico on Friday, Dec. 6.