Argentine footballer detained by ICE moved without notice, bail hearing canceled

Matias Pourrain, an Argentine footballer playing for Miami United FC, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on August 6 in Florida. The 34-year-old, who has lived in the U.S. since 2019, was taken from his prison cell without notice to a facility in Texas. A hearing scheduled for the following Wednesday to discuss his bail request was canceled due to this transfer, leaving his case in the hands of a new judge.

Pourrain's lawyer, Regina Borges, stated that they are seeking a new hearing but have received no response. The Argentine player's situation echoes that of Iliana Lick, another Argentine recently detained by ICE. Lick, a nanny, was released after a month when her family paid a US$10,000 bond. Like Pourrain, Lick was moved through multiple detention centers without explanation and endured poor living conditions. Both cases highlight the challenges faced by immigrants in the U.S. legal system.