Foreign nationals with tickets to the upcoming World Cup from qualifying countries will no longer be subject to a contentious bond requirement, a decision that’s sure to be a welcome relief for many soccer fans. This move from the Trump administration effectively suspends a rule that had been in place since 2010.
The requirement, which had been championed by the Obama administration, mandated that visitors from countries competing in the tournament pay as much as **$15,000** in bonds in order to enter the United States. The measure was ostensibly designed to ensure that these visitors wouldn’t overstay their visas or engage in any nefarious activities while in the country.
Temporary Exemption
The suspension of this rule will be a temporary one, lasting only for the duration of the World Cup tournament, which is set to kick off in June. The decision to grant this exemption was reportedly made to avoid deterring foreign visitors from attending the tournament, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world.
Impact on Fans
The impact of this decision will be felt most acutely by fans from countries competing in the tournament, who will no longer have to worry about ponying up thousands of dollars in bonds in order to enter the United States. Fans from countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Belgium will all be eligible for the exemption, which will undoubtedly be a welcome relief for those who have already purchased tickets to the tournament.
According to Taylor Fritsch, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the decision to suspend the bond requirement was made to ensure that foreign visitors would not be deterred from attending the tournament. “We want to make sure that soccer fans from around the world can attend the World Cup without worrying about the financial burden of the bond requirement,” Fritsch said in a statement.
The suspension of the bond requirement is likely to be just the latest in a long line of controversies surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Critics have long argued that the bond requirement was unfair and overly burdensome, and the decision to suspend it will likely be seen as a victory for these critics.