Amnesty International and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights groups have issued a “World Cup travel advisory” warning tournament visitors of “rising authoritarianism and increasing violence” in the United States under President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement. The advisory, released Thursday, was deemed necessary “in light of the deteriorating human rights situation in the United States and in the absence of meaningful action and concrete guarantees from FIFA, host cities, or the U.S. government.”
Key Concerns Highlighted
The advisory states that visitors may be arbitrarily denied entry, detained in “inhumane” conditions, or subjected to invasive phone and social media searches. It points to aggressive immigration enforcement surges in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis, which have led to accusations of racial profiling and violent suppression of protests.
Industry Backlash
Tourism officials condemned the advisory, arguing that the groups are threatening the livelihoods of service industry workers to achieve political goals. Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said that while there are legitimate concerns about U.S. entry policies, they are being blown out of proportion. “The notion that visiting America poses a meaningful safety risk is not a good-faith warning, it’s a political tactic designed to cause economic harm,” Freeman stated, noting that 67 million international travelers visited the United States last year.
A FIFA spokesperson pointed to the federation's governing documents, which state: “FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognized human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights.”
Decline in International Travel
The U.S. has seen a decline in international travelers since Trump returned to the White House, offending allies with talk of making Canada a U.S. state, taking control of Greenland, and questioning NATO's value. The tourism industry is counting on a major boost from World Cup visitors, even as Trump's travel ban for citizens of 19 countries adds uncertainty. The administration hopes that expedited visa processing and excitement about the tournament will outweigh concerns that Trump's immigration messaging undermines the global unity theme of the World Cup.
The tournament kicks off June 11 with games across North America, including 11 stadiums in the U.S., two in Canada, and three in Mexico.
