Top officials offered a message that stuck to the Trump administration’s focus on minimizing legal immigration and removing those who overstay their visas.
The Trump administration says foreign soccer fans considering attending next year’s FIFA World Cup are welcome to visit for a good time, but not a long time.
At a meeting of the World Cup task force at the White House on Tuesday, administration officials extended a conditional welcome to those who would attend the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico.
“Everyone is welcome to come and see this incredible event,” Vice President JD Vance said. “But when the time is up, they’ll have to go home. Otherwise, they’ll have to talk to Secretary Noem,” he added, referring to Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, another member of the panel.
Ms. Noem, speaking next, did not pick up Mr. Vance’s refrain. But Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, soon echoed his sentiments.
“Go on a road trip. See America,” he said to potential visitors. But in the next breath, he added: “Don’t overstay your visa. Don’t stay too long.”
The blunt warnings to tourists not to overstay their visas is in keeping with the Trump administration’s approach to foreigners over the last few months, which has included not only deporting immigrants illegally present in the United States, but also efforts to expel or turn away some authorized to be in the country.