With less than five months to go until the FIFA World Cup comes to North America, one question is cutting through the hype: will ICE agents actually be at the games?
The short answer: yes.
What ICE Has Confirmed
At a recent House Homeland Security hearing, Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, confirmed that the agency will play a “key part” in security for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
That statement spread fast, sparking confusion and outrage across social media.
Lyons clarified that involvement includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)—ICE’s investigative arm—not Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the division responsible for immigration arrests and deportations.
HSI vs. ERO: Two Very Different Missions
HSI typically operates behind the scenes. Its job is intelligence, coordination, and transnational crime prevention, including human trafficking and large-scale security threats.
ERO is the arm responsible for raids, detentions, and removals.
Historically, HSI has been involved in security planning for events like the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Its presence at the World Cup follows that pattern. Still, DHS has reportedly lied about operations in the U.S., causing many to remain weary of their involvement.
Those fears grew following Lyon’s statements. He stopped short of one key assurance: ICE will not pause enforcement operations during World Cup matches or fan events.
Why Lawmakers Are Pushing Back
During the hearing, Rep. Nellie Pou (D-NJ), whose district includes MetLife Stadium, pressed Lyons to commit to suspending ICE operations at World Cup matches and other fan events.
She argued that fear keeps fans away, hurts the host cities, and damages U.S. reputation on the global stage.
Lyons did not verbally commit to her request.
What We Know About World Cup Security
The World Cup will be held across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, with 11 U.S. host cities, including at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Up to 7 million international visitors are expected for the tournament. The federal government has allocated more than $600 million for security. DHS is coordinating daily with host cities.
The scale of the World Cup makes federal involvement unavoidable. However, it remains unclear how immigration enforcement intersects with routine policing during the tournament.
The Human Rights Concerns
For civil rights groups, the concern isn;t so much what happens inside the stadium gates. Instead, it’s everything around them.
Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch warn that routine law enforcement encounters could funnel people into ICE custody through cooperation agreements with local agencies.
That risk isn’t theoretical.
Last year, an asylum seeker was detained after a minor drone violation near a major soccer event and deported as a result. Advocates point to it as an example of how quickly “non-immigration” enforcement can turn into detention or removal.
Some host cities also operate under 287(g) agreements, which allow local law enforcement to act on behalf of ICE. That adds another layer of uncertainty for fans without legal status, and for mixed-status families.
New Jersey does not operate under 287(g)
FIFA has yet to comment on whether it has received any guarantees from U.S. authorities.
This World Cup is unfolding amid aggressive immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, whose policies in cities like Minneapolis and Los Angeles have already drawn criticism on the world stage.
DHS insists legal residents have nothing to fear. However, critics point to instances where legal citizens were detained by ICE.
Five months out, the question isn’t whether the World Cup will be secure. It’s whether it will feel safe enough for everyone to show up.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.