27 Arrested at Copa America Chaos: 11 Illegal Migrants Among Those Apprehended at Hard Rock Stadium

Sports | July 16, 2024, 6:14 p.m.

Authorities in Miami arrested 27 people, including at least 11 illegal migrants, following a chaotic incident during the COPA America final. Colombian nationals Luis Beltran Martinez and Elkin Mayorga were charged with battery on a law enforcement officer and trespassing. ICE has placed holds on their cases and those of nine others, as they were involved in the stadium storming. Mayorga crossed the border illegally in March 2022 and was released with a tracking device, which he later removed. The melee resulted in a 75-minute game delay, with fans resorting to crawling through air vents and jumping over security railings. Despite 800 officers on the scene, the chaos could not be fully contained. The incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining public safety at large events.