Spanish
Miami.- Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine warned that the increase in Immigration raids may deter tourists from traveling to the United States for the upcoming Club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup, which will affect the success of the tournaments.
"The unprecedented persecution of legal visitors will create a chilling effect and deter international tourists who may perceive the United States as an unwelcoming or hostile country, affecting attendance and the overall success of the event," the mayor expressed in an opinion column in the local media Miami Herald.
The city of Miami, located in Miami-Dade County, is one of the venues for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins this Saturday, and the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
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In this regard, the mayor indicated that both events "will boost the local economy through increased tourism, hospitality, and retail spending." However, he indicated that the increased activity of agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), who have increased raids and arrests against migrants throughout the entire American geography, may pose an obstacle to the tournaments. In his column, Levine cited reports of the growing fear felt by some American citizens when going through Immigration at airports, as well as the concern that ICE will go to the stadiums where the matches will be played. "It would be devastating for our economy and our global image if the lasting impression was that visitors who come to enjoy the wonders of Miami-Dade were attacked or mistreated inappropriately," he said. And he remembered that both Canada and Mexico will also be venues for next year's World Cup, so the growing fear in the United States could push fans to attend the matches that are played outside their borders.
