Omar Artan, a Somali referee, was denied entry into the United States by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) just days before the World Cup began. A Trump administration official stated that Artan was flagged for 'derogatory' information, including alleged associations with suspected members of terror organizations, which made him inadmissible under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Artan was denied entry at Miami International Airport and had reportedly received a visa the previous week from the Somalia Embassy in Kenya. He was scheduled to participate in training with other referees in Miami. After being denied entry, Artan returned to Somalia and expressed gratitude to his supporters, promising to attend future events. Somalia is among several countries subject to travel restrictions under the Trump administration. The World Cup is set to begin with matches hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
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Somali World Cup referee denied entry to the U.S. due to security concerns
Omar Artan, a Somali referee, was denied entry into the U.S. before the World Cup due to security concerns related to alleged associations with terror organizations. He was scheduled to train with other referees in Miami but returned to Somalia after being barred from entry.
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Somali World Cup ref barred from US for 'association with suspected members of terror organizations': official
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Somali World Cup referee denied entry to the U.S. due to security concerns
