A coalition of immigrant and civil rights groups has issued a travel advisory, urging international tourists to think twice before heading to Florida for the FIFA World Cup. This caution comes in light of the state’s stringent immigration policies and the operation of detention centers, infamously dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”
The advisory recommends that visitors from abroad ensure they carry identification and register their travel plans with their respective consulates prior to arriving in the U.S. for the tournament, which is set to commence in June.
Highlighting recent reports and ongoing civil rights litigation, the advisory outlines increasing incidents where visitors, tourists, lawful residents, and even U.S. citizens have faced detention, questioning, or removal following interactions with immigration authorities. These actions have been particularly noted in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis has encouraged local law enforcement to collaborate with federal immigration officials.
The advisory also notes specific cases where tourists or U.S. citizens were allegedly detained, underscoring the potential risks faced by those traveling to the Sunshine State.
In a press conference held near FIFA’s downtown offices in Miami, representatives from the groups clarified that while they are not currently advocating for a boycott, they are not ruling out the possibility in the future as fans gear up to visit the city.
In a press conference outside FIFA’s downtown offices near Miami, the groups said they were not calling for a boycott, but they would not take it off the table in the future as fans prepare to visit the city.
“We’re using this opportunity to really urge visitors and tourists to have a calculated move about whether or not they’re going to come,” Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, coordinator for American Friends Service Committee, a social justice and humanitarian nonprofit, said at the press conference.
Others, including former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, have warned fans against traveling to the U.S. for the games over the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The coalition warned that travelers could face increased enforcement during what they described as an aggressive immigration crackdown under the current administration.
“We’re just warning people of the risks … under an environment where every, not just law enforcement agency but state agency, has been deputized to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement,” said Thomas Kennedy of the Florida Immigrant Coalition.
The advisory suggested fans visiting from other countries carry IDs and register travel with their consulate before coming to the U.S. for the tournament. (Christopher Dilts/Getty Images)
“What we don’t want is our fans being harassed by immigration enforcement when they’re just trying to attend the game,” Kennedy continued, adding that he wanted “assurances that there won’t be immigration enforcement happening at these games indiscriminately.”
Dariel Gomez, a field organizer for the ACLU of Florida, said the groups were not aiming to spread fear or panic but to “offer a sobering reality check” that some people may face racial profiling or be detained.
“Because of these programs a simple traffic stop here in Miami is no longer just a routine interaction, for too many people a simple interaction by police now comes with the fear of deportation,” Gomez said.
The groups also raised concerns about the recent instances in Minneapolis in which federal immigrant agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, as well as the federal government’s new travel bans. The Trump administration included some exceptions to the ban for players, coaches and their families, but Haiti and Iran were not covered. Foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors who wish to attend the events would still be impacted by the ban unless they qualify for another exemption.
The coalition cited enforcement actions in Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ moves to have local police partner with federal immigration officials. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who awarded the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” to President Donald Trump in December, previously said that “fans from all over the world will be welcome.”
The White House has also created a FIFA task force, which includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is a native of Miami.
In December, the White House did not rule out whether immigration raids were possible around the soccer matches this summer, in which seven are scheduled for South Florida.
