Haitian fans in Boston hide from World Cup spotlight, fearing Trump's immigration dragnet
As Haiti prepares to face Scotland in its first World Cup match since 1974, many Haitian immigrants in Boston plan to skip public viewings and even throw away costly tickets, scared of being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A fairy-tale qualification overshadowed by fear
Haiti's first World Cup appearance since 1974 had sparked euphoria among the diaspora in the United States. But on the eve of the match against Scotland in Boston, that joy has turned into caution. Thousands of Haitian immigrants, who under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have built lives in Massachusetts, now fear that stepping into a bar or public square to watch the game could expose them to immigration officers. The global cameras trained on the tournament offer a paradox: they could bring sympathy, but they also sharpen the sense of risk for a community that feels hunted.
The legal cloud hanging over TPS
The Trump administration moved to revoke TPS for Haiti soon after returning to the White House in 2025. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on 29 April 2026, and a final ruling is expected in late June or early July. With the court's decision looming, many Haitian families say the risk of being stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents is simply too great. The temporary protection has allowed tens of thousands to work and buy homes; losing it would upend lives.
Thousands of Haitian families find themselves at this crossroads of uncertainty, because TPS gave them the ability to work.
Pastor Fleurissaint has helped hundreds of Boston-area Haitians with administrative procedures and has led protests since 2017 to preserve the protection. He describes a "measured euphoria" among a population that wants to celebrate but cannot risk being identified.
Staying home with a $500 ticket
Presner Nelson spent $500 on a precious match ticket, but he decided not to go. His older brother, Emmanuel Damas, was snatched from outside his Boston home and flown 2,700 miles to an immigration detention centre. Other residents are simply too scared to wear their national team's jersey in public. "They prefer to stay isolated," Mr Fleurissaint noted. "These Haitians have been here for several years. Many are homeowners."
Coaches and lawyers brace for a fiasco
Coach Sébastien Migné voiced hope that Boston would turn out for his players.
But community leaders are not optimistic. New York-based lawyer Henry-Claude Baltazard, a football lover who has followed the Grenadiers, summed up a wider worry.I expect a certain fervour. I hope there will be many fans in Boston.
I fear it will be a fiasco.
The weekend match will test whether the joy of a sporting fairy tale can survive the reality of an immigration enforcement machine that has made the streets of Boston feel hostile to thousands of its own residents.
- U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on Trump administration's revocation of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti.
- Haiti faces Scotland in its first World Cup match since 1974, held in Boston.
- Expected final Supreme Court ruling on the legality of ending TPS for Haiti.
