CPJ warns of 'hostility' from US immigration agents toward journalists covering World Cup

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has sounded the alarm regarding the potential treatment of journalists covering the upcoming World Cup in the United States. In a statement released on Thursday, the CPJ highlighted that media professionals traveling to the US for the tournament might encounter interrogations and hostility from immigration officials at borders and even within stadiums.

This warning comes as a significant concern for international press freedom. The CPJ has observed a troubling trend where immigration controls are increasingly used as a tool to silence reporting. Several journalists have reportedly been "assaulted, arrested, detained, and deported" from the US in recent months, not due to any illegal activities, but specifically because of their journalistic work.

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We have seen how immigration control is used as a tool to silence the informative work, with authorities detaining, denying entry, or deporting journalists, not for having committed any crime, but for their journalistic work.

Furthermore, the CPPEI noted that international journalists, commentators, and writers who have previously visited the US have been denied entry or visas under the current administration. The situation is also precarious in Mexico, where journalists covering World Cup-related news on corruption or human rights issues could face persecution, threats, or physical violence, particularly those from marginalized groups. This highlights a critical challenge for journalists aiming to provide comprehensive coverage of the global event.

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In Mexico, journalists covering news linked to corruption or human rights related to the World Cup may also face persecution, threats, or physical violence, especially for professionals from marginalized genders.