Miami-Dade mayor decries Border Patrol agent's presence at Club World Cup party
MIAMI — Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has issued a statement saying the presence of a federal immigration agent at a South Florida barge party celebrating the advent of an international soccer tournament was 'deeply troubling.'
The incident further ratcheted up anxiety ahead of this evening's opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup, which takes place amid "No Kings Day" protests and a U.S. military parade in Washington, D.C..
The long-awaited international soccer tournament already was to kick off this evening in Miami under a cloud of immigration enforcement. Earlier this week, U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement issued an ominous social media post, which was subsequently deleted, declaring that "CBP will be suited and booted ready to provide security for the first round of games."
Watch: No Kings protests video
The Miami Herald reported on the June 11 incident involving the Club World Cup party on a floating barge.
The barge was boarded by U.S. Coast Guard officials under what the agency said was a routine check, according to the report, but the inspection crew included a CBP official. The Herald reported attendees were asked for identification that purportedly would show their status.
'This should not have happened,' Levine Cava said in a statement quoted by the Herald. 'Ensuring that all community members feel safe and included is crucial to maintaining our county's reputation as a welcoming destination for both residents and visitors.'
The opening game of the FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, pitting local favorite Inter Miami FC and global star Lionel Messi against Egypt's Al Ahly squad. The tournament showcases the world's best soccer teams and is a prelude to next year's World Cup, which will match 48 teams in games to be played in 16 North American cities, including Miami.
One of the teams participating in the tournament, Real Madrid of Spain, is training in Palm Beach Gardens. Another, England's Manchester City, is training in Boca Raton.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Are ICE immigration agents targeting the FIFA Club World Cup games?
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