Iraqi Soccer Team Photographer Denied Entry at O'Hare
The Iraqi national soccer team touched down in Chicago on a Friday afternoon after a flight from Dubai, bringing with them players, staff and a team photographer who documents matches for international audiences.
During standard Customs and Border Protection inspection, two individuals from the traveling party were pulled aside for additional screening. One of those individuals was the team photographer, who was subsequently ruled inadmissible to the United States.
Customs Cites Classified Information
Officials indicated that the photographer’s denial was based on the presence of classified material linked to his work, triggering a security assessment that fell under U.S. immigration law.
The second screened member was cleared and permitted to enter the country, illustrating how admissibility determinations can vary even within the same group.
All travelers seeking entry into the United States are subject to CBP inspection, and each case is evaluated individually using a combination of law enforcement, national security and immigration data.