Washington, DC – As the World Cup gets underway today and millions of fans turning their attention to soccer’s biggest stage, the lead-up to the tournament has been overshadowed by a series of incidents that highlight the real-world consequences of the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda. Alongside ICE presence at matches generating fear for tourists and residents alike, federal authorities denied entry to a Somali soccer referee FIFA official, held Iraqi star Aymen Hussein for hours at the airport, and turned away dozens of ticket-holding fans from countries including Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a new guest post for America’s Voice Substack, Charting a New Narrative on Immigration, policy consultant for Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) Thomas Kennedy states, “The lack of interest in the World Cup is not surprising. The vibes are off. The Trump administration seems to be doing everything in its power to make the United States as unwelcoming a country as it can be as the tournament begins.”
According to Mario Carrillo, Campaigns Director of America’s Voice:
“The World Cup should be a shining example for America to showcase what has always made our country strong: welcoming people from around the world and bringing communities together through a shared experience. Instead, the tournament is launching today against a backdrop of immigration policies that have created confusion, fear, chaos, and uncertainty for longstanding immigrants, athletes, officials, and fans alike. The threat of ICE agents potentially being deployed to stadiums and host cities goes against what this event should represent.
At a moment when the world’s eyes are on the United States, the Trump administration is sending the opposite message. From visa problems and heightened scrutiny to stories of travelers from certain countries being questioned, detained or denied entry, the question hanging over this tournament is whether people who have every reason to be here will be able to participate without fear of becoming the next immigration headline. America would not exist if the waves of immigrants from around the world were kept from our shores. The grit, sweat and determination of immigrants to forge the most competitive economy and open society on earth will soon wither if the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies continue to advance.”
