US denies entry to Somali referee for World Cup tournament

US Denies Entry to Somali Referee Omar Artan Ahead of FIFA World Cup

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that Omar Artan, a top Somali referee, was denied entry into the United States upon arrival in Miami. Artan, who is listed as one of FIFA’s 52 World Cup referees, had arrived in South Florida on Saturday with a valid visa prior to travel.

According to DHS, Artan was deemed “inadmissible due to vetting concerns” and was subsequently denied entry. The agency has not provided further details regarding the specific reasons for this decision.

Artan’s arrival in the US suggests that he had undergone the necessary vetting process prior to his trip. Somalia is currently listed on President Donald Trump’s travel ban list, which has sparked controversy over Washington’s travel restrictions and their impact on international events such as the FIFA World Cup.

The denial of entry has raised concerns about US travel policies and their potential effects on the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Mexico and Canada. Iran’s national team has faced similar challenges due to visa issues, with players allowed to arrive in the US but required to return to their base south of the border.

Local officials have also expressed concern over federal agents harassing foreign nationals or targeting undocumented immigrants near stadiums. The mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, has spoken out against plans for a surge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the city during the tournament.

FIFA has not commented on the situation, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has criticized the travel bans, stating that they are “an affront to our values and the law.”

Source: Al Jazeera