Trump's immigration enforcers play host for the World Cup
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The agency driving President Trump's mass deportation campaign is now preparing to welcome millions of foreign visitors at the World Cup.
Why it matters: The June 12 kickoff in Los Angeles — followed by 77 matches in just over a month — will trigger a wave of arrivals who'll come face-to-face with the immigration system that's generated backlash over the last year.
- Activists, soccer fans and even a former FIFA president have cautioned against coming to the U.S., claiming visitors should fear racial profiling, surveillance, and even ICE detention.
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pushed back on those concerns in a CBS News interview, saying ICE won't be there to "round up" immigrants at matches.
- "It's Immigration and Custom[s] Enforcement," Mullin told CBS News. "So what do you find at a tremendous amount of sporting events? Counterfeit products, counterfeit tickets. You have counterfeit clothing being sold on the streets."
The intrigue: Even as international critics warn fans away, the Trump administration has softened some of its legal immigration restrictions to make travel possible for players, staff and fans for the tournament.
- Iran and Haiti, both on the travel ban list, will field teams this summer.
- Fans from Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia will be able to avoid paying a $15,000 visa bond (to discourage a visa overstay) with their proof of match ticket.
The big picture: The tournament is akin to staging 78 Super Bowls across 11 cities, as Mullin has said.
- The security risks are "extremely high," Mullin said, describing the work that's need from the agency he inherited roughly 10 weeks before the starting whistle.
Multiple components at DHS are responsible for World Cup security.
- FEMA will host the tournament's command center in the same space used to monitor natural disasters to centralize communications and responses. FEMA also gave out $625 million in grants to local governments, mostly for police overtime for security, and $250 million in grants for drone mitigation.
- The Coast Guard is the lead security team at venues near the country's coasts, including the Los Angeles stadium that will host 8 matches, including the first USA game.
- Customs and Border Protection is responsible for the safe entry (and exit) of the expected millions of traveling football fans at ports of entry, and administering the electronic travel authorization portal that has already received 5.9 million applications.
- TSA is also prepping for the increased airport travel, both from international and domestic travel.
- ICE, and its Homeland Security Investigation team, are responsible for preventing human trafficking, instances of which are known to increase during major sporting events, and combating the sale of counterfeit goods.
- CISA, the Cyber Infrastructure and Security Administration, will work to take down fake FIFA websites, spread awareness about fake ticket sales and scams, and work to prevent cyber attacks. 2022 hosts Qatar had an increase in cyber attacks leading up to and during the tournament.
- The Secret Service will activate for Trump's security, if he decides to attend a match, either for Team USA or the final as he did the Club World Cup last summer.
The bottom line: "This will be a monumental event that requires close coordination between the Trump Administration, FIFA, and all of our great federal, state, and local partners," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said.
- "President Trump is focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but the also the safest and most secure in history."
