A semi-professional soccer player is currently being held in a Florida detention center after being apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while traveling with his team to a game in Los Angeles.
Matias Alejandro Porain, 34, was en route to a playoff match with his teammates from the United Premier Soccer League club Miami United when ICE agents detained him at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on August 6.
A native of Argentina, Porain was flagged down by federal agents as he was moving through the TSA security checkpoint. After being questioned, he was arrested. He is now held at the Glades County Detention Center in Moore Haven, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s detainee database.
The DHS revealed that Porain had overstayed his six-month temporary visa, which he received upon his entry into the U.S. in 2019. Reactions to this announcement have emerged from both his current team and his previous club, Club de Lyon.
According to a Miami United spokesperson, after Porain passed security, three individuals approached him, leading to his eventual detention.
In a statement to various media, the DHS indicated that Porain entered the U.S. legally via Atlanta Intercontinental Airport on November 12, 2019. However, his continued stay after May 11, 2020, was deemed “in violation of our nation’s laws.”
“Mr. Porain will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive full due process,” the statement noted, mentioning that the decision for detention was not mandatory.
Club de Lyon, where Porain played before joining Miami United earlier this year, has issued multiple statements on social media, some of which challenge ICE’s claims. They asserted that Porain entered the U.S. legally, had a pending refugee claim, valid work permit, a Florida ID, and no criminal background.
“All these years, Matthias has worked, paid his taxes, kept his paperwork, and built a life and community here,” the club stated on social media.
Miami United expressed that they were “deeply shocked” by Porain’s detention and pledged to provide support and legal assistance to him and his family.
“We are collaborating with all parties to resolve this in the best way possible,” the club affirmed. “Matthias is not only an exceptional soccer player, but also an outstanding person and a valued member of the Miami United family. He has the full support of his teammates, coaches, staff, and the entire club community.”
Porain’s lawyer, Regina de Moraes, mentioned that she has filed a motion for bail and is seeking a hearing date, as reported by the Miami New Times.
In addition to his playing duties, Porain also coaches youth players at Miami United’s academy.
