Overview
- Officials confirmed on Friday that ICE agents are present at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and that similar federal-state-local security operations will include the 11 U.S. host cities.
- Homeland Security officials and ICE leaders say the agency’s role is limited to threat detection, finding people wanted for serious crimes, and supporting event safety rather than conducting mass immigration sweeps.
- Human-rights groups and local activists launched campaigns such as “No ICE in the Cup” and “Hands Off Our Cup” and have vowed protests targeting ICE presence at World Cup venues.
- Stadium-area workers and neighborhood residents reported fear of enforcement, with some saying they will stay home or abandon shifts if they spot ICE activity near transit or entrances.
- The controversy builds on May 27 protests over FIFA worker data collection and reflects long-running tensions between ICE and sanctuary communities that could disrupt transit, staffing, and fan attendance during the tournament.