Trump admin faces immigration concerns at U.S. World Cup games

Federal officials said ICE will not conduct large‑scale immigration raids at the 2026 World Cup events hosted in the United States, but immigrant communities remain uneasy. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told reporters, “We’re not there to round up mass individuals.” Local officials, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna and Miami’s Florida Highway Patrol commander Major Ellery Collado, said no enforcement operations are planned around stadiums or fan festivals.

Immigrant‑rights groups warned that recent aggressive immigration crackdowns have heightened fear, citing the denial of entry to a Somali referee and past protests in Los Angeles. A White House border‑security adviser warned of a possible surge of ICE agents in New York following state legislation limiting cooperation with the agency. Officials emphasized that ICE presence at the games would focus on security, human‑trafficking and counterfeit‑goods issues, not immigration enforcement.

The administration’s assurances have done little to allay concerns among immigrants who view the tournament as a celebration of their contributions to U.S. society.