arts
South Florida immigration attorney explains why Somali FIFA referee could've been denied entry to US at MIA
By Manuel Bojorquez at CBS4 Miami
· June 9, 2026
· 2 min read
A FIFA referee from Somalia spoke out after he was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport (MIA) this weekend over what officials called "vetting concerns".Omar Abdulkadir Artan was preparing to join other FIFA referees who were already in Miami.U.S. Customs and Border Pro
Key takeaway Artan told The New York Times that he had a visa when he arrived in Miami but was held and questioned for more than 11 hours before being told he would not be admitted into the country.
Why this matters in The Miami
The denial of entry to a Somali FIFA referee at Miami International Airport raises questions about the vetting process for international visitors to South Florida. As a major hub for Latin American and Caribbean communities, Miami is accustomed to hosting people from around the world, but this incident highlights the complexities of US immigration policy. Local immigration attorney Patricia Elizee's comments underscore the broad discretion of immigration officers at ports of entry, where a visa is no guarantee of admission. This case may have implications for future international events in Miami, where organizers will need to navigate the nuances of US immigration policy to ensure that participants can enter the country. The fact that Artan was held and questioned for over 11 hours before being denied entry suggests that the vetting process can be lengthy and unpredictable, even for individuals with visas.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: arts ·
Published: June 9, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 2 min
newsletter" aria-label="Newsletter signup" style="margin:24px 0;padding:20px 24px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f 0%,#2d5a8c 100%);border-radius:10px;color:#fff">
Get more The Miami stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering arts and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A FIFA referee from Somalia spoke out after he was denied entry into the United States at Miami International Airport (MIA) this weekend over what officials called "vetting concerns".Omar Abdulkadir Artan was preparing to join other FIFA referees who were already in Miami.U.S. Customs and Border Pro
When was this published? This article was first published on June 9, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Manuel Bojorquez at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more arts coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More arts →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter