She was on her way to see Argentina play at the World Cup, then she disappeared. A month later she explains: - Diario AS thumbnail

The Donald Trump administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the United States did not stop during the FIFA World Cup. One of the most high-profile cases involved Iliana Noeli Lick, a 30-year-old Argentine fan who was finally released on bail after spending a month in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

Lick was preparing to travel to the Argentina-Switzerland game on July 11 when she was detained for allegedly violating U.S. immigration laws.

Originally from Buenos Aires, Lick was arrested at Philadelphia International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Kansas City. She had tickets to watch Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinals.

As she went through security, a woman approached her without identifying herself. Lick was then taken away without further explanation. From July 11 until her release on August 10, she was held at four detention facilities across the United States, moving from Pennsylvania to Louisiana before eventually being taken to Texas and New Mexico.

At Cambria County Prison, near Philadelphia, Lick was not placed in a facility exclusively for immigration detainees but instead housed alongside women accused of a range of crimes.

“We had to wear the black-and-white striped uniform, like you see in the movies,” she told CNN. “They handcuffed our hands and shackled our ankles and around our waists, with our handcuffed hands attached to the chains, unable to walk and enduring the pain of the chains on our ankles.”

“It feels horrible because we are not criminals. Why did we have to go through the same process as someone who committed a crime if we are not criminals?” she added.

Lick also described the harsh conditions she experienced in detention, particularly in Pennsylvania.

“We had to drink water from the faucet that was directly connected to the toilet” shared by the 12 people being held there, she said. “We slept with the lights on. They were huge lights … and there was noise because officers were constantly coming and going.”

ICE eventually released her just over a week ago.

She was on her way to see Argentina play at the World Cup, then she disappeared. A month later she explains: “The nightmare is not over” — ICE agents at airport.Shannon Stapleton

ICE says Lick is an undocumented immigrant from Argentina

The Department of Homeland Security told CNN that Lick entered the United States on March 17, 2023, and overstayed the six months permitted by her visa.

“She will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of her immigration proceedings. It should be noted that work authorization or a pending application does NOT confer legal status in the United States,” the department said.

Lick disputes the Department of Homeland Security’s account. She says she entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and subsequently applied for an extension through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. According to Lick, the application was approved, allowing her to remain legally in the country.

She later applied for asylum, a request that remains pending, and currently has legal authorization to work as well as a Social Security number. Lick works as a nanny in Philadelphia.

The Trump administration has increased pressure on immigration authorities as it pursues its goal of removing 11 million undocumented immigrants during the president’s second term. ICE has stepped up enforcement operations at airports, including the type of operation that resulted in Lick’s detention, as authorities seek to increase removal numbers and meet their targets.