Twice-deported illegal immigrant charged with flying drone in restricted airspace during FIFA Fan Festival

A twice-deported illegal immigrant with a long criminal history has been charged with flying a drone in restricted airspace in Atlanta during a FIFA Fan Festival, authorities said.

Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez was allegedly operating the unmanned drone on June 12 in restricted airspace near Centennial Olympic Park during the 2026 FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta while standing in a nearby parking area and recording video of the event, federal prosecutors said.

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He was taken into law enforcement custody after he was approached by FBI agents, who determined he was in the United States illegally after asking for his identification. He was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the next day.

"This criminal illegal alien dangerously flew a drone in restricted airspace near a FIFA event in Atlanta, Georgia," said Acting Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Lauren Bis. "His lengthy criminal history includes drug trafficking, stolen property, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and driving under the influence. The Trump Administration will not allow illegal aliens to threaten the safety and security of the American people."

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Rojas-Martinez, 37, a Mexican citizen, is charged with operating a drone in a temporary flight restricted zone and illegal reentry by a removed alien.

Rojas-Martinez told investigators he first illegally entered the U.S. through Texas in 1999 and was deported in 2013. He was deported from the U.S. again in 2019 after re-entering illegally, DHS said.

Authorities don't know when he made his third illegal trip across the southern border.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established "No Drone Zones" over stadiums hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and related fan events across the U.S.

During match days, all aircraft operations, including drones, will be prohibited within a 3-nautical-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet above ground level around the stadiums listed below, unless otherwise authorized by air traffic control, according to the FAA.

Drone operators who enter restricted airspace without authorization can face fines of up to $100,000, confiscation of their aircraft, and federal criminal charges.