A coalition of immigrant and civil rights groups issued a travel alert for international tourists traveling to the United States, “particularly in Florida,” warning that their rights, liberty, and physical security could potentially be in danger.
The coalition includes the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, the American Friends Service Committee, the Family Action Network Movement, and Semillas de Colombia. The travel alert, which was issued on Wednesday, Feb. 4, advised people to “reconsider travel to the state.”
The alert was issued in response to what the groups called multiple cases of tourists and U.S. citizens being detained for immigration enforcement purposes. The statewide travel alert is primarily focused on FIFA World Cup fans who are considering coming to Florida for the matches this year.
“Florida is no longer a safe destination for international tourists,” said Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition. “When federal and local agents can detain anyone at anytime without cause and without identifying themselves, everyone is at risk.”
Petit added, “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.”
The immigrant and civil rights groups are concerned about international fans planning to travel to Florida for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins in June.
Throngs of soccer fans from around the world are expected to descend on the United States for the various matches, including seven scheduled in South Florida.
The groups said “enforcement tactics threaten to place international fans and delegations at risk — especially people of color, visitors from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and dual-nationals who could be targeted or questioned without cause.”
The advisory urges travelers to:
Civil rights leaders gathered outside FIFA’s offices near Miami on Thursday, Feb. 5, warning international travelers that “Florida is no longer safe” and calling on the sports organization to take action against recent immigration tactics before the World Cup.
During the news conference, speakers stopped short of calling for a boycott of FIFA but instead encouraged the organization to take action before the June matches begin.
The Florida games will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. They include key group stage matches featuring Portugal vs. Colombia, Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, and Uruguay vs. Cape Verde in June.
The state will also host group stage clashes, such as Brazil vs. Scotland, plus a Round of 32 match, a quarterfinal game, and the third-place match in July.
Mark Pieth, a Swiss attorney who chaired an oversight committee on FIFA reform, has urged fans to skip the World Cup.
“There’s only one piece of advice for fans,” he told the Swiss newspaper Der Bund. “Stay away from the USA! You’ll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t please officials, they’ll be put straight on the next flight home. If they’re lucky.”
Sepp Blatter, the ex-FIFA president, wrote on social media, “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”
Contributing: Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post; Rob Landers, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.