The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents may conduct operations at World Cup matches in the United States this summer. This announcement has raised concerns among international visitors, especially those without legal status in the U.S. New Jersey will host eight matches, including the final, while other games will take place in Miami, Seattle, Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, and San Francisco.
According to a DHS spokesman, international visitors have “nothing to worry about” unless they are in the U.S. illegally. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons emphasized that the agency will be a crucial part of the tournament’s security framework. However, he has not suspended operations or created buffer zones around the event venues.
The potential presence of ICE has led to legislative efforts to limit enforcement actions. New Jersey Congresswoman Nellie Pou introduced the Save the World Cup Act, which aims to prohibit immigration enforcement within a mile of World Cup venues. Despite these efforts, the bill is not expected to pass in the current Congress.
In Miami, the chair of the FIFA World Cup Host Committee, Rodney Barreto, assured that ICE would not be present at stadiums. However, Florida immigrant advocates remain skeptical, emphasizing that a personal assurance is not a formal policy. Yareliz Zamora from the American Friends Service Committee stated that an official moratorium on immigration enforcement is necessary to ensure safety for all attendees.
As the World Cup approaches, tensions between federal immigration enforcement and local jurisdictions are likely to continue. The tournament kicks off in less than a month, with officials and advocates closely monitoring the situation.
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