Next year’s FIFA World Cup will bring the world’s largest sports event to 11 cities across the US in 2028, hosting the Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Under normal conditions, these incidents attract millions of visitors, generate billions of dollars in tourism and perform America on the world stage. But until the US curriculum changes, we are likely to reduce the opportunity by harming both our economy and our global reputation.
More than 1 million fans Traveled to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. 2024 attracted about Paris Olympics 1.7 million International Visitors. The US should prepare for the same crowd, but it is throwing obstacles.
Returned on his first day in office, President Trump signed executive Order Directing federal agencies to apply “maximum” vet for all visa applicants. In practice, it means more arrest, more detention, more exile and more Horror stories Passenger Dismantled On the border.
The damage is not limited to the limit. The State Department is with Imprisonment Aggressive social media veating on some visa applicants. Consular officers “Understand the applicants for any signal of enmity towards citizens, culture, government, institutions or the founding principles of the United States.” Applicants who refuse to visible their online activity Can be seen As an attempt to hide something, resulting in a denial.
Then Trump’s sweeping came travel ban On 12 countries and seven more sanctions on 4 June. Leak plan Suggest that the administration may soon target an additional 36 countries. This will affect hundreds of thousands of passengers. And earlier this month, Trump signed executive Order Noncitizens is required to pay more to visit our national parks than American citizens.
The travel industry is already feeling impact. In May, World Travel and Tourism Council Estimate International travel expenses in the US will increase by 22 percent this year – a loss of $ 12.5 billion. Among the 184 countries studied, the US is the only one expected to see the decline in spending by foreign visitors.
And don’t assume that you are safe if you are not from a restricted country. Visa applicants from all over the world now face extended monitoring and backlogging backlogs. For example, the average waiting time for a tourist visa at the American Embassy in Bogota, Columbia is now 15 months,
Even former President who under Biden, More than 66,000 visa applicants Stuck in “administrative processing”. During Trump’s second term, this number is almost certainly increased. Even travelers of closely affiliated countries now face uncertainty, prolonged waiting time and unexplained delay.
The message is being received abroad: visit America at your risk.
Meanwhile, 11 American cities hosting the World Cup Games are preparing for a wave of foreign visitors and media. But they also face growing enforcement and monitoring to large immigrant communities. The administration has not clarified whether these incidents will have any safety measures for unspecified or mixed-position fans, workers or residents.
Conversely, Trump has Ordered Both major sites for the immigration agent-wise cup matches to intensify arrests and exile in Democratic-Run cities such as Los Angeles and New York. Immigrants Living at homeFear that they may be picked up on their way or from work.
It is a self-inspired wound. Without a reliable workforce and a welcome environment for international travelers, America can turn two marki events into stories of caution. Even if the administration temporarily relaxes certain policies to facilitate the World Cup and Olympics, the US image and the economy may already suffer losses.
Hosting global events is more than a pride – it is an openness, security and testing of capacity. A successful World Cup and the Olympic world show that the US is dynamic, open and capable. But if fear and red tape defines visitor experience, then we will completely send another message: America is not worth troubled.
This will not just be a lost opportunity, but an unexpected economic and diplomatic error.
Stephen is a retired immigration law professor at Yale-Lohar Cornell University.
