A few Benfica fans are left furious and left out of their own pocket after they have been denied access to the United States before the club's world cup -while visa alternations peaks in the midst of President Donald Trump's Hardline attitude towards immigration.
Two Portuguese supporters, who had booked flights and had protected tickets for Benfica's opening match against Boca Juniors in Miami, shattered their travel plans after they had refused electronic travel authorization without explanation.
One of the fans, restaurant owner Fabio Vasques, said that he had completed all the required documentation-included the ESTA application, the standard online form needed for visitors from Visa-Waiver-countries but was rejected twice.
“I filled it in three weeks ago and the answer came back negatively,” Vasques told the Portuguese newspaper JN. “I tried again and the result was the same. No justification was given. '
Vasques had arranged flights from Lisbon to Miami via Madrid and paid for competition tickets at the Hard Rock Stadium, where Benfica is confronted with Argentinian Giant Boca Juniors on Monday 16 June. He now demanded € 820 (£ 695) in flights and $ 150 (£ 118) for the competition ticket – and hops some of the travel insurance.
The group of four supporters intended to stay with a friend who lived in Miami, but only two were made available for access. The other fan who was refused a visa refused to comment.
The ESTA program officially the electronic system for travel authorization-requirement passport data, travel information and contacts based in the US. It costs $ 21 and is valid for visiting a maximum of 90 days.
But legal experts say that applications are rejected with a growing frequency under the return of Trump.
“It used to be rare for Portuguese citizens to gain access to the US,” says Nelson Tereso, a Portuguese-American immigration lawyer. “But the rules have been considerably tightened since Donald Trump's changes.”
Those changes, introduced for the first time during his previous presidency and are now actively enforced, are part of a broader, controversial immigration performance that has dominated the structure into the club World Cup of this summer.
Riot Police, Ice Agents and National Guard troops have already been deployed in cities such as Los Angeles and Philadelphia, where mass protests have broken out about immigration raids.
This week, American customs and border protection, posted – then removed – a message stating that they would have been 'suitable and started' during Club World Cup competitions, so that fears can be used to use and retain illegal immigrants.
Although FIFA says they do not expect such actions in stadiums, the uncertainty has increased the fear of visiting fans.