ICE will be at the World Cup
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ICE plans to have a presence at the World Cup this summer, acting director Todd Lyons announced yesterday.
Why it matters: Trump's immigration crackdown and ICE's actions have fueled international backlash that could affect how global fans, teams and governments engage with the World Cup.
State of play: Lyons' comments come as Kansas City prepares to welcome more than 650,000 visitors from across the world for the World Cup.
Driving the news: Lyons fielded a question before a House panel about ICE's involvement from Rep. Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), whose district is scheduled to host World Cup matches.
- When Pou asked Lyons whether he would commit to pausing ICE operations during the FIFA tournament, Lyons said ICE would still have a role.
- "ICE, specifically Homeland Security Investigations, is a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup," Lyons said.
- "We're dedicated to securing that operation and we're dedicated to the security of all of our participants as well as our visitors," he added.
Reality check: Lyons was referring to ICE HSI, which oversees all criminal investigations related to human trafficking and is involved in many large sports events, such as the Super Bowl and the Olympics.
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), meanwhile, is largely responsible for enforcing federal immigration law.
- The Department of Homeland Security said in January that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will work to "deliver a world-class, seamless, and secure experience for all travelers and participants at the FIFA World Cup 2026."
What they're saying: Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter called for a boycott of the World Cup last month after other global soccer executives and experts suggested the same.
Zoom out: Vancouver officials recently expressed concern that ICE agents were deployed to the Winter Olympics in Milan and don't want the same to happen for the World Cup.
- The international fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) told BBC Sport that it is "extremely concerned by the ongoing militarization of police forces in the U.S."
The other side: Trump, who received the FIFA Peace Prize in December, has said the World Cup will be the "biggest, safest and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history."
- He has also teased moving World Cup games out of cities he deems unsafe.