A coalition of human rights organizations have issued a travel warning for tourists visiting Florida for this summer's FIFA World Cup.
The organizations, which include Florida Immigrant Coalition and American Friends Service Committee, are warning international travelers against traveling to Florida — and if they do so, to exercise caution and have proper identification at all times.
The advisory comes as the Trump Administration continues its mass deportation campaign targeting undocumented immigrants, along with numerous reports of U.S. citizens wrongfully detained.
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“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," said Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition.
In a release, the coalition referred to "multiple cases of tourists and U.S. citizens being detained or held by local, state, and federal law enforcement for immigration enforcement purposes."
Petit said that law enforcement 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."
“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," Petit added in the statement.
The World Cup, which takes place in June and July, will feature seven games played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
The Florida Immigrant Coalition, in partnership with the Rapid Response Alliance for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment (RAISE), operates a hotline advising on immigration rights or reporting immigration enforcement activities.
That hotline can be reached at 1-888-600-5762. The line is available in Creole, English and Spanish.
