Immigrant activists, civil rights groups and local leaders of Florida issued an alert for thousands of travelers planning a trip to Florida for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. They said the conditon of Florida is so deplorable that international travelers should ask themselves if a soccer match is worth the risk of being kidnapped and jailed.“Florida is no longer a safe destination for international tourists. When federal and local agents can detain anyone at anytime without cause and without identifying themselves, everyone is at risk,” Florida Immigrant Coalition executive director Tessa Petit said in a news release. “International visitors must ask themselves if a soccer match is worth the risk of being kidnapped and jailed until God-knows-when, in deplorable conditions, by a secret police who is using racial profiling, judging people for how they look or their accent, and getting away with literal murder in the streets of our country. Such is the state of affairs in the United States and in Florida. We urge the international community to be aware of the risks before setting foot in Florida.”If travelers still want to come to Florida, they should exercise extreme caution, carry identification at all times and register their travel with their consulate before arrival, they appealed. US citizens are not beyond danger either, the groups said citing several examples of ICE detaining US citizens. “In the country, international tourists have had harrowing experiences as some have been jailed for over a month with no due process, little to no access to lawyers or their consulates, and in abhorrent and inhumane conditions,” according to the news release. “In one example, a Mexican tourist had a valid tourist visa and a ticket to fly home. He was detained during a traffic stop in Orlando and sent to Alligator Alcatraz. He described the conditions there as inhumane. He was shackled inside the airplane in which he was sent back to Mexico, after his case garnered international attention.”
Will there be ICE raids at World Cup venues?
US authorities have not ruled out ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants at World Cup venues. Fan groups recently expressed concerns over the security of fans.