Amnesty International and dozens of US 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 amid President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement. The advisory, released on Thursday, cites the 'deteriorating human rights situation' and a lack of guarantees from FIFA, host cities, or the US government.
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 immigration enforcement surges in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Minneapolis, which led to accusations of racial profiling and violent suppression of protests.
Tourism officials condemned the message, arguing it threatens the livelihoods of service industry workers for political goals. Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the US Travel Association, said legitimate concerns about entry policies are being blown out of proportion, noting that 67 million international travellers visited the US last year. '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,' he said.
A FIFA spokesperson pointed to the federation's governing documents, which state its commitment to respecting all internationally recognised human rights. The US has seen a decline in international travellers since Trump returned to the White House, with his talk of annexing Canada, taking control of Greenland, and questioning NATO offending allies. The tourism industry hopes for a boost from World Cup visitors, despite Trump's travel ban on 19 countries adding uncertainty.
The World Cup kicks off on June 11, with matches across North America, including 11 stadiums in the US, two in Canada, and three in Mexico.
