Argentine footballer detained in Miami by ICE to be held ‘at least another week’

Argentine footballer Matías Pourrain is set to remain in U.S. custody for at least another week following his detention by ICE during an immigration check. The 34-year-old, who has lived in the U.S. since 2019 on a tourist visa, was arrested last Thursday before boarding a flight to Los Angeles. Pourrain has been fighting to gain residency status, but authorities have kept him detained due to the lack of a final decision.

Lawyer Regina Borges confirmed that Pourrain will be transferred to the Krome Detention Center in Florida, where he will continue to be held. Borges stated that the footballer is "doing a little better" than when he was arrested and is now among the "list of new arrivals." She added that Pourrain "qualifies for bail" and has prepared a motion to request a hearing from the court, hoping to have a date set by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Upon his transfer, Pourrain is expected to remain in a maximum-security immigration detention center for at least another week while awaiting bail. The Miami United FC club, where Pourrain played, expressed their shock and support for the player and his family, emphasizing his importance to the team. Meanwhile, another Argentine, Iliana Lick, who was detained at a security checkpoint in Philadelphia while traveling to the 2026 World Cup, is also facing immigration issues.

Lick's visa was extended, and she has begun the process of changing her immigration status, working as a nanny for two families in Philadelphia. Lick is currently held in a detention center in New Mexico, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $18,500 to cover her legal fees.