Argentine footballer Matías Pourrain details ICE detention

Argentine footballer Matías Pourrain has detailed his experience being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida. Pourrain, a 34-year-old player for Miami United FC who has lived in the United States since 2019, reported being denied basic necessities during his detention.

Pourrain stated that he went three days without food or water and was not permitted to shower, describing the hunger as “brutal.” The incident occurred on August 6 while he was preparing to travel to Los Angeles for a sporting event. He was approached by two plainclothes officers at the airport and told he had to go with them regardless of his protests.

Although Pourrain holds a valid driver's license and a work permit, and claims to have a pending immigration process, a system alert led to his arrest. He noted that despite having no criminal record and paying taxes, he was taken into custody after his documentation triggered an alert in the system.