Scoop: Feds won't focus immigration enforcement at Houston's World Cup
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ICE's role providing security during the World Cup in Houston will not focus on immigration enforcement, the city host committee's security chief told Axios on Monday.
Why it matters: Mixed and unclear messaging from the Trump administration has led to confusion on ICE's role during the tournament, which will take place in Houston and 10 other cities nationwide come June.
Driving the news: Tommy Calabro, chief safety and security officer for the Houston host committee, tells Axios that immigration enforcement has never come up during planning meetings with federal, state and local police.
- "That's from the White House all the way down to the city. It's all about World Cup safety."
State of play: It's unclear what ICE's role will be at the World Cup. ICE acting director Todd Lyons told Congress in February the agency's Homeland Security Investigations unit, which investigates transnational crimes such as human trafficking, will have a presence in World Cup host cities.
- A FIFA host committee co-chair in Miami said last week he was personally assured by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that ICE would not have a presence inside stadiums, per the Athletic.
The intrigue: Last month, the ACLU and other advocacy groups issued a travel advisory for fans and players warning of immigration crackdowns in World Cup host cities.
What they're saying: "The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, those agencies will be working with us like they've worked before with us in the past," Calabro tells Axios.
- "When we work these events, the primary purpose is safety and security of the event, whether it be World Cup, the rodeo, the Houston Marathon or Final Four."
Zoom out: More than a dozen agencies will help secure Houston Stadium, FanFest and everywhere soccer fans will congregate while the World Cup is played.
- That includes the Secret Service, ATF and Texas DPS along with local law enforcement. They'll be working under the direction of a Houston Police Department unified command center, Calabro says.
What's next: World Cup play in Houston kicks off June 14 with Germany taking on Curaçao.