Journey alert issued by civil rights teams for Florida vacationers

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Groups just like the ACLU warn Florida vacationers their rights, liberty and bodily safety could possibly be in peril. The teams had been particularly involved about followers visiting Florida for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

A journey alert was issued Feb. 4 for worldwide vacationers touring to the United States “particularly in Florida,” warning their rights, liberty and physical security could potentially be in danger.

The warning got here from a bunch of civil rights teams such that “strongly advised to reconsider travel to the state.”

Groups concerned are ACLU of Florida, Florida Immigrant Coalition, American Friends Service Committee, Family Action Network Movement and Semillas de Colombia.

This is in response to what the teams referred to as a number of instances of vacationers and U.S. residents being detained for immigration enforcement purposes.

“Florida is no longer a safe destination for international tourists. When federal and local agents can detain anyone at anytime without cause and without identifying themselves, everyone is at risk. International visitors must ask themselves if a soccer match is worth the risk of being kidnapped and jailed until God-knows-when, in deplorable conditions, by a secret police who is using racial profiling, judging people for how they look or their accent, and getting away with literal murder in the streets of our country,” stated Tessa Petit, Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition.“Such is the state of affairs in the United States and in Florida. We urge the international community to be aware of the risks before setting foot in Florida.”

International followers warned of journey alert to Florida forward of FIFA matches

The teams are particularly involved about worldwide followers planning to journey to Florida for 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins in June.

Throngs of soccer followers from around the globe are anticipated to descend on the U.S. for the assorted matches, together with seven scheduled to be played in South Florida.

The teams declare “enforcement tactics threaten to place international fans and delegations at risk —especially people of color, visitors from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and dual-nationals who could be targeted or questioned without cause.”

The advisory urges vacationers to:

  • Exercise excessive warning
  • Carry identification always
  • Register their journey with their consulate earlier than arrival

Some linked with World Cup advise to skip visiting U.S.

Mark Pieth, a Swiss legal professional who chaired an oversight committee on FIFA reform, urged fans to skip the World Cup.

“There’s only one piece of advice for fans,” he informed the Swiss newspaper Der Bund. “Stay away from the USA! You’ll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they don’t please officials, they’ll be put straight on the next flight home. If they’re lucky.”

Sepp Blatter, the ex-FIFA president, wrote on social media, “I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.”

Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post contributed to this report.

Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the community’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking information. You can get all of Florida’s finest content material instantly in your inbox every weekday day by signing up for the free publication, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.


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