Somali referee Omar Artan has been denied entry into the United States, preventing him from officiating in the FIFA World Cup. Artan, an award-winning official, was one of 52 referees selected for the tournament and was set to be the first person from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup.
Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday. Despite reportedly having a valid travel visa, he was refused entry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
In a statement released Monday, CBP explained that Artan underwent additional inspection as part of a routine process to verify information and determine admissibility. Following this inspection, the referee was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns.
CBP noted that all travelers seeking entry into the U.S., including athletes, coaches, and staff, are subject to inspection and vetting. Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using available law enforcement, national security, and immigration information.