US Law Enforcement Arrests 905 Traffickers, Rescues 180 Victims at 2026 FIFA World Cup

Federal authorities arrested 905 suspected human traffickers and rescued 180 victims, including 30 children, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. The operation was led by the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the FBI and local law‑enforcement agencies.

Key actions took place in several host cities: an eight‑person raid on an adult‑bookstore brothel in Dallas uncovered a two‑decade‑old trafficking ring; agents in San Francisco rescued two minor victims, one of whom had been missing from Bakersfield since 2025; Miami‑Dade recorded the highest number of arrests (190), and Kansas City operations led to 19 arrests and the rescue of nine children. Officials highlighted that one victim had been murdered in 2024, underscoring the severity of the crime.