Immigrants’ rights advocates in New Hampshire and the Northeast are raising concerns about the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the World Cup this summer. Several of them issued a joint travel advisory to the thousands of fans that will be attending games, hosting watch parties, or travelling through the region.
“It’s unfortunate because for billions of people, this is the most anticipated and culturally significant and important sporting event in the world,” said Dylan Hoey from the New Hampshire Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees. “The way that we treat visitors, both to our state and to our country, is a reflection of who we are as a people.”
For visitors from abroad, the organizations warned travelers to be careful at airports and other ports of entry because of concerns over social media screening and searches of electronic devices.
While travelling in the U.S., the advisory asks visitors to carry ID and status documents, as well as the contact information of an emergency contact, a trusted attorney, and the nearest embassy or consulate in case they’re detained.
Hoey said this was especially relevant for visitors driving through New Hampshire to get to a game in Massachusetts, New Jersey or Canada since the New Hampshire State Police is one of 22 organizations in the state that have signed an agreement to work closely with ICE. New Hampshire is the only state in the region to have one of these agreements, other than the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.
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Featured Photo: World Cup merchandise on display at a CVS in Concord. Lau Guzmán / NHPR.