Watch Messi Open Up Chances of Being Caught in US Immigration Raids

LOS ANGELES, THURSDAY - Immigrant fans of Lionel Messi need to be careful. They could be caught in an immigration raid in the United States.

On Saturday (14/6/2025), the stadium will be the venue for the Club World Cup match. Inter Miami from the United States and Al Ahly from Egypt will compete there. Inter Miami is notably reinforced by Argentine megastar, Lionel Messi.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will be deployed to the stadiums. FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated on Wednesday (11/6/2025) that he is not concerned about the deployment of immigration enforcement officers at the Club World Cup matches.

"The most important thing is to ensure the safety of everyone attending the match. This is our priority. We want everyone who comes to the match to have an enjoyable experience," he stated.

Cities in the U.S. that will host the FIFA World Cup next year will face the same issues. Los Angeles is one of the cities that will host the matches. Currently, Los Angeles is ablaze due to immigration raids, followed by large protests against those raids.

Cities in the U.S. must consider how to reassure fans worldwide who are concerned about Trump's immigration policies and travel bans. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico will jointly host the FIFA World Cup final. In the final, there will be 48 teams and 104 matches.

The Global Initiatives Director at Human Rights Watch, Minky Worden, stated that FIFA needs to collaborate with the US government. The aim is to ensure that the rights of athletes, support staff, fans, and the media are protected regardless of their identity or views.

After meeting Trump last month, Infantino is confident that the entire world will be welcomed for the Club World Cup, which will take place from June 14 to July 13, 2025, and the 2026 World Cup.

However, the efforts to convince international fans will be complicated. This is due to the travel ban imposed by Trump that came into effect last Monday.

Moreover, Trump will take firm action against "foreign terrorists." Among the 12 countries facing travel bans, Iran is the only one that has so far qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Iran views the travel ban as a reflection of the deep-seated hostility of the United States towards Iranian citizens and Muslims.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the Democratic Party in the United States expressed concerns over the national crisis as Trump deployed U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to handle anti-deportation protesters. Law enforcement detained around 20 individuals, the majority for violating the curfew, on the first night of the restrictions in downtown Los Angeles.

The police also fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of anti-deportation protesters. A curfew has been imposed in Los Angeles to stop the vandalism and looting that occurred over the past five days.

Protests have also spread to other cities, including Dallas and Austin in Texas, as well as Chicago and New York. "If the immigration raids continue, and if there are still soldiers marching in our area, I believe the curfew will remain in effect," said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Dozens of mayors from across the Los Angeles area are demanding that Trump halt immigration raids that spread fear and trigger protests throughout the United States. They are also requesting that Trump withdraw the use of National Guard and Marine forces during the raids.

Those caught in the immigration raid include asylum seekers and individuals who have overstayed their visas. Officers also apprehended immigrants awaiting their court hearings in immigration court.

The military is now increasingly close to being involved in law enforcement actions such as deportation, as promised by Trump in his crackdown. The National Guard is authorized to temporarily detain individuals who assault officers. However, any arrests must be carried out by law enforcement officials.

According to the DefenseNews.com website, the deployment of about 5,000 National Guard and Marine troops to Los Angeles will cost about $134 million. They will be deployed for 60 days.

According to the acting financial supervisor of the US Department of Defense, Bryn MacDonnell, during the House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Defense, Tuesday (10/6/2025), the funding will come from the operational and maintenance budget of the Department of Defense and will cover travel expenses, accommodation, food, and other incidental costs.

The U.S. Department of Defense has approved the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles. They are tasked with protecting federal immigration officials and property from anti-deportation protesters.

The Democratic Party objects to the deployment of the National Guard and Marines. According to the Democratic Party, there is no strong legal basis for this deployment.

This action can only be taken if the president enacts the Rebellion Act. Experts and former officials from the U.S. Department of Defense assess that the deployment of troops is technically legitimate. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized that Trump has the authority to order this deployment.

However, the deployment may place the military in an uncomfortable position. This is because the deployment intersects with domestic law enforcement and partisan politics.

Scott Sherman, the commander of Task Force 51 responsible for 4,000 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines deployed to Los Angeles, stated that so far approximately 500 National Guard soldiers have been trained to assist federal personnel conducting immigration raids. All National Guard and Marine troops underwent several days of training on civil unrest and crowd control.

For example, if the National Guard sees someone attempting to attack civilians or law enforcement officers, they are permitted to apprehend and then hand them over to law enforcement. Training will continue as there are concerns that the wave of anti-deportation protests will increase.

So far, there are 2,000 National Guard soldiers protecting federal facilities or personnel or ready to be deployed. Marines will also complete their training and are expected to be assigned to the streets of Los Angeles as early as Thursday night.

Based on routine self-defense guidelines, National Guard and Marine soldiers may do whatever is necessary to protect themselves or the lives of others. Active-duty soldiers deployed along the border may also detain individuals.

However, arrests may only be made against those who violate areas designated as restricted zones or national defense areas. Technically, the area becomes part of a U.S. Army base, allowing the military to detain individuals entering the base. (REUTERS/AFP/AP)