Argentine footballer Matías Pourrain detained by ICE in Florida

Matías Pourrain, a 34-year-old Argentine footballer, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Florida. The arrest occurred at the Fort Lauderdale airport while Pourrain was traveling with his teammates from Lyon FC on a domestic flight to Los Angeles.

According to his legal representation and family, Pourrain has resided in the United States since 2019. Although he entered the country legally on a tourist visa and has been undergoing the process to obtain permanent residency, authorities detained him due to incomplete immigration paperwork. His lawyer, Regina de Moraes, described the situation as being within a "gray area of immigration law."

Following an initial stay at an ICE processing center in Miramar, Pourrain has been transferred to the Krome Detention Center. His defense is currently seeking his release through bail, which is estimated to be between $3,000 and $5,000, pending a judicial decision and the support of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.