Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE arrests at the FIFA World Cup are not off the table [1, 2].
The statement clarifies the federal government's approach to immigration enforcement during one of the largest sporting events in history. Because the tournament attracts millions of international visitors, the balance between security and enforcement remains a point of public concern.
Speaking in an interview with CBS News, Mullin said that while arrests remain a possibility, ICE will not be deployed to the event for the sole purpose of immigration arrests [1, 2]. The secretary said that the Department of Homeland Security aims to maintain the ability to enforce immigration laws while ensuring overall security for the tournament [1, 2].
"We're not there to go round up people," Mullin said [1].
Despite that clarification, Mullin said that the agency retains its enforcement tools. He said, "ICE arrests at the FIFA World Cup are not off the table" [1].
The DHS strategy suggests a reactive rather than proactive approach to immigration arrests at the venues. This means that while agents may be present for security reasons, their primary mission is not to conduct raids, though they may still act on specific immigration violations [1, 2].
“"ICE arrests at the FIFA World Cup are not off the table."”
This position indicates that the U.S. government intends to maintain full legal authority to deport or detain individuals during the 2026 World Cup, rejecting a 'safe haven' or sanctuary policy for the event. By distinguishing between 'rounding up people' and maintaining the ability to make arrests, the DHS is attempting to signal that while mass raids are unlikely, individual enforcement actions will still occur.
