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The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, confirmed that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) will be deployed at all venues of the FIFA World Cup 2026 throughout the tournament.
"The ICE and HSI will be present every day. They will work with local and federal partners to ensure the FIFA World Cup," said Mullin in a video posted on the official X account of ICE.
"They will play a fundamental role in the fight against ticket counterfeiting, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and the sale of counterfeit goods. They will work hand in hand with the CBP throughout the entire process," he added.
Mullin clarified that the goal is not to "round up masses of individuals" in the stadiums, but he did not rule out arrests if individuals wanted for serious crimes like drug trafficking or those on terrorist watch lists are identified, referring to "the worst of the worst."
He specified that the deployment of officers is an effort to combat "criminal activities."
The announcement confirms what NBC News had reported on May 13: that ICE agents might be present at the tournament matches. At that time, sources from that outlet indicated that the agents would not check the immigration status of the attendees.
The DHS insists that the presence of agents is aimed at ensuring the safety of fans during the tournament, which will take place from June 11 to July 19 at 16 venues across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with 78 of the 104 matches being held on U.S. soil.
The confirmation of the deployment comes at a time of great tension.
In April, Amnesty International and over 120 civil and human rights organizations issued a formal travel advisory for the World Cup, warning about arbitrary detentions, invasive phone checks, and "inhumane" conditions in detention centers.
This Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Human Rights Watch, the NAACP, and other organizations demanded binding human rights guarantees from FIFA, noting that ICE had already signed 1,544 agreements with local agencies in host cities such as Dallas, Houston, and Miami.
The closest precedent is the 2025 Club World Cup, where pro-immigrant organizations urged FIFA to keep the stadiums free of ICE agents following reports of operations that instilled fear in immigrant communities, resulting in semi-empty stadiums and tickets sold for less than four dollars.
In December, Andrew Giuliani, the World Cup coordinator at the White House, had already warned that Trump did not rule out immigrant detentions during the tournament, stating that the president "doesn’t rule out anything that makes this country safer."
Mullin took office as Secretary of the DHS on March 24, 2026, succeeding Kristi Noem, who was appointed "Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas."
FIFA, for its part, has limited itself to reminding about its guiding documents on human rights without providing any additional concrete guarantees, while the tournament—which could attract up to 10 million visitors to North America—kicks off on June 11 with the opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
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