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Argentine Soccer Star Held by ICE at Florida Facility

A semi-professional soccer player was detained by ICE at a Florida airport while traveling to a playoff match and is being held pending removal proceedings for allegedly overstaying his visa.

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe Staff Writer

AUGUST 12, 2026 AT 8:52 AM

Matias Alejandro Pourrain, 34, was apprehended by ICE agents at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on August 6 while en route to Los Angeles with his Miami United teammates for a United Premier Soccer League playoff fixture. The Argentine national was stopped after clearing Transportation Security Administration screening, according to reporting by New York Post.

Pourrain is currently being held at Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, Florida, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s detainee database.

Visa Overstay Allegations

Department of Homeland Security officials stated that Pourrain entered the United States legally through Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on November 12, 2019, using a temporary six-month visa. Authorities claim he remained in the country beyond the May 11, 2020 expiration date, violating federal immigration law.

In a statement to media outlets, DHS said Pourrain would remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and would receive full due process. The agency characterized detention as a choice, rather than a consequence of enforcement action.

Teams Dispute Federal Claims

Both Miami United and Club de Lyon, Pourrain’s former team, have challenged the government’s account. A Miami United spokesperson told the Miami Herald that three individuals approached the player after he had already cleared security screening.

Club de Lyon issued multiple social media statements defending Pourrain, asserting that he entered the country legally and has maintained a pending asylum case for years. According to the club, Pourrain possesses a valid work permit, Florida identification, and has no criminal record. The organization stated he has consistently worked, paid taxes, maintained proper documentation, and established both a life and community in the United States.

Miami United released a statement expressing shock at the detention, emphasizing that the club has been providing support to Pourrain and his family, including legal assistance. The organization described Pourrain as not only an exceptional footballer but an outstanding person and important member of the Miami United family.

Legal Response

Regina de Moraes, Pourrain’s attorney, told the Miami New Times she has filed a motion for bond and requested a hearing date.

Beyond his playing duties, Pourrain also serves as a coach for youth players in Miami United’s academy.

With information from New York Post

Eleni Papadaki-Van Der Merwe

She was born in 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the granddaughter of an immigrant from Crete who settled in the Greek community of Johannesburg (one of the largest in Africa). She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg and a master’s degree in Journalism from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She began her career at English-language media outlets in Johannesburg, covering politics and economics, with a focus on issues related to migration and the diaspora. She moved to Athens in 2015 to “return to her roots,” initially to pursue graduate studies, and has remained there permanently. She is married to an Afrikaner; they have two children and live in the southern suburbs of Athens.

Visa Overstay Allegations

Teams Dispute Federal Claims