World Cup travel drama: Somali ref and Iraqi officials denied U.S. entry

A Somali World Cup referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, was denied entry to the U.S. after an 11-hour questioning at Miami, while an Iraqi team photographer and a striker were detained for hours at Chicago O’Hare before release; CBP described the actions as routine vetting to determine admissibility. Somali officials and Iraqi federation members criticized the denials as unfair and politicized, while U.S. authorities emphasized that visas do not guarantee entry and that cases are decided on vetting grounds on a case-by-case basis, with the State Department pledging a welcoming process for legitimate travelers.