Overview
- Human Rights Watch disclosed that police detained an asylum seeker near MetLife Stadium on July 13 for an alleged drone violation, then turned him over to ICE despite a valid work permit and a pending claim.
- The man spent three months in immigration detention before opting for voluntary deportation in October, leaving his two children, ages 14 and 10, briefly alone inside the stadium that night.
- At a press conference ahead of the tournament draw, White House World Cup lead Andrew Giuliani declined to rule out ICE operations at matches, stressing security and legal entry pathways.
- HRW cited Deportation Data Project figures showing 55,749 immigration arrests from January 20 to July 29 in jurisdictions slated to host 2026 World Cup games.
- FIFA has not provided protections sought by rights groups, saying the July arrest occurred outside stadium grounds and noting no ticket record for the detainee, while advocates also flag heightened risks after the U.S. ended TPS for Haiti.