Trump administration: Somali ref suspected of terrorism link

Field Level Media
11 Jun 2026, 02:25 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images)

The Somali referee headed to the World Cup then turned away was denied entry into the United States over a possible tie to terrorism, a Trump administration official claimed to Fox News.

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, 34, made it to Miami International Airport on a flight from Istanbul on Saturday but was refused entrance into the country by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.'Upon further inspection by CBP, derogatory information, including association with suspected members of terror organizations, was discovered making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),' the statement read, Fox News reported Wednesday.

'The traveler was refused admission and given immigration forms that provide the section of law used to complete an expedited removal under 8235 of the INA. President Trump's administration will not allow any security threat to enter our country - full stop.'

Artan was named 2025 Male Referee of the Year by the Confederation of African Football and would have been the first-ever Somali referee to take charge of a match at the World Cup.

Fox reported Artan had been issued a visa to enter the United States last week, citing the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.

More Information

Africa

Section

Kenyan protestors teargassed at US Ebola quarantine facility

NANYUKI, Kenya: On June 9, Kenyan police used tear gas to break up protesters in the central town of Nanyuki. The protesters were opposing...

Trump administration: Somali ref suspected of terrorism link

(Photo credit: Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images) The Somali referee headed to the World Cup then turned away was denied entry into the United...

PM Modi thanks world leaders for wishes on record tenure as India's longest serving continuously elected Prime Minister

New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her warm wishes on...

PM Modi thanks Trump for congratulatory message on record-setting tenure, eyes stronger India-US ties

New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked US President Donald Trump for his congratulatory message on...

PM Modi receives congratulatory messages from world leaders on becoming India's longest continuously serving democratically elected Prime Minister

New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received congratulatory messages from several Heads of State and...

World Conference of Classics calls for deeper dialogue among civilizations

Participants exchanged views through four thematic forums on knowledge and virtue, community and friendship, peace and international...

World

Section