Senator Ron Wyden Urges Reconsideration of U.S. Travel Policies Amid Upcoming Major Sporting Events
In a move that has caught the attention of sports enthusiasts and travelers alike, Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has made a formal request to top officials in the Trump administration. His plea? To reconsider the current travel policies that are affecting those arriving in the United States. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Wyden’s concerns are timely and significant.
Wyden, who serves as the top Democrat on the finance committee, reached out to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. In his letter, sent on a Friday, he expressed his worries over recent reports of international travelers facing detentions and other travel-related issues.
“This has turned ordinary travel into a needlessly grueling ordeal for tourists, business travelers, lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens,” Wyden wrote, highlighting the growing unease among international travelers regarding the administration’s immigration and border policies.
Indeed, several countries have already updated their travel guidelines for citizens planning to visit the United States, reflecting a growing wariness. The travel forecasting company Tourism Economics has revised its annual outlook, now predicting a 9.4% decline in international arrivals this year.
Real-life stories underscore these statistics. In February, a German visitor was detained for 16 days after attempting to return to the U.S. with his American fiancé following a road trip to Mexico. Similarly, a British backpacker named Becky Burke was stopped at the U.S.-Canada border and held for nearly three weeks in a Washington state detention facility, according to her father.
Wyden’s appeal comes on the heels of preliminary figures from the federal government’s National Travel and Tourism Office, which show a significant 11.6% drop in visits to the U.S. from overseas in March compared to the same month last year. This decline is not just a matter of numbers; it has tangible financial implications. Tourism Economics anticipates a $9 billion drop in U.S. spending by international visitors this year.
Looking ahead, the stakes are high. In addition to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Wyden also pointed to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The U.S. is also set to host the Club World Cup this summer, spanning 11 cities across the country.
“Ahead of these events, your departments will experience a significant increase in travelers seeking entry to the United States, to include extraordinary athletes, support staff, government officials, journalists, business owners, and spectators,” Wyden emphasized. “If your harsh and unnecessary approaches to travelers continue, foreign-born athletes who have spent their whole lives training for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity may be unable to travel to the United States to participate in these games.”
The impact of these policies is already being felt in the sports world. Venezuelan forward Deyna Castellanos, a player in the National Women’s Soccer League, opted out of joining her national team for recent matches due to fears she wouldn’t be allowed to return. Similarly, Zambia‘s national team chose not to call up four women playing in the United States for games in China, citing similar concerns.
In a March meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, President Donald Trump announced the formation of a task force to coordinate the federal government’s security and planning for next year’s World Cup. This move indicates a recognition of the challenges ahead, but whether it will address Wyden’s concerns remains to be seen.
- Key Points:
- Senator Ron Wyden urges reconsideration of U.S. travel policies.
- Concerns arise due to upcoming major sporting events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
- International travel to the U.S. is predicted to decline by 9.4% this year.
- Financial impact includes a projected $9 billion drop in spending by international visitors.
- Real-life detentions highlight the current travel policy issues.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
