The government of the United States has made the decision to deport 2,000 Colombian citizens following the incidents that occurred during the final of the 2024 Copa América between Argentina and Colombia on its territory. The disturbances before the match, which culminated in clashes with local authorities, led to this drastic measure, under which those involved must leave the country under the mandate of Donald Trump.
"The goal will be to prevent similar incidents, which is why the U.S. government has initiated a dialogue with FIFA to implement stricter penalties against fans attempting to enter the stadiums without tickets," officials said. Some of those involved managed to escape the country earlier, many to Canada, while others hid in various U.S. locations.
The Colombian community in the United States has expressed concern about these measures, fearing an increase in repression against immigrants as part of this control policy. Despite this, authorities have managed to locate those deported in remote areas, thus progressing in the expulsion process. Those who do not meet the criteria for deportation will face economic sanctions, with fines reaching up to $20,000 for their participation in the disturbances.
These immigration actions are part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
