World Cup fans warned of US immigration risks

More than 120 civil society organizations issued a travel warning for the United States, saying that visitors coming to the country for the FIFA World Cup should use caution due to ongoing immigration efforts by the Trump administration.

The warning shared by Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) comes as the World Cup is set to be hosted in 11 cities across the United States, bringing fans from around the world. 

“FIFA has been paying lip service to human rights while cozying up with the Trump administration, putting millions of people at risk of being harmed and their basic rights violated,” Jamil Dakwar, ACLU human rights program director, said.

Tourism in the United States has been impacted by immigration policies enforced by the Trump administration, as the country saw a 6% drop in foreign visitors in 2025, even as global tourism as a whole rose by 6.7%.

In an emailed statement to USA TODAY, White House Spokesman Davis Ingle said that the Trump administration is working to make the upcoming World Cup the “safest and most secure in history,” and that “no amount of ridiculous scare tactics driven by liberal activist groups and the left-wing media will change that.”

Here is what you need to know.

Risks and human rights violations

The travel warning issued by the ACLU read: "WARNING: Individuals may encounter or be subjected to the following risks and harms in breach of the United States’ human rights obligations under domestic and international law."

The warning went on to list several examples of those violations, including “arbitrary” entry denials and increased social media vetting of tourists entering the United States. The organizations alleged that immigration agents could look for “anti-American” sentiments in tourists' social media profiles.

Among other reasons for the warning was the Trump administration's ongoing travel ban of 39 countries, as well as the sweeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in cities across the U.S.

“The specter of immigration enforcement this summer has become the leading concern among grassroots organizations across host cities," Jennifer Li, leader of Dignity 2026, a national coalition working with grassroots groups in host cities, said.

ICE and the World Cup

Despite the concerns of civil organizations about ICE’s presence at the World Cup, officials have not committed to pausing operations during the sporting event.

Back in February, Todd Lyons, the outgoing acting director of ICE, said in a Congressional hearing that ICE would be a “key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup.”

“We're dedicated to securing that operation, and we're dedicated to the security of all our participants as well as visitors,” he said.

Contributing: Seth Vertelney and BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAY.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.