ICE isn't expected at Philly's World Cup, but activists are ready
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Philadelphia immigration activists are preparing for possible federal immigration enforcement during the World Cup amid uncertainty over ICE's role at the tournament.
Why it matters: Mixed messaging from the Trump administration has fueled confusion over whether and how ICE could operate during the competition, which kicks off next month in Philadelphia and 10 other host cities.
State of play: ICE acting director Todd Lyons told Congress in February that the agency's Homeland Security Investigations division — 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.
Driving the news: Host committee Philadelphia Soccer 2026 tells Axios that World Cup security planning is outside its "authority and jurisdiction," directing questions about ICE's role at the tournament to the city.
- Philadelphia has "received no indication from ICE that it plans to have a presence specifically at World Cup events," police spokesperson Sgt. Eric Gripp tells Axios.
The other side: In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said international travelers who enter the U.S. legally "have nothing to worry about."
- "At the same time, foreign visitors MUST be proactive and should start working on their travel plans and documents well ahead of time to ensure a smooth travel experience."
Zoom out: 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.
- Advocacy groups have warned that heightened federal law enforcement activity could deter international visitors and immigrant communities from attending events.
- The chief executive officer for Houston's host committee told Axios immigration enforcement hadn't come up during law enforcement's planning meetings.
Yes, but: Without firmer assurances from officials, "No ICE in the Cup" activists in Philly tell Axios they're planning for all scenarios, including possible immigration sweeps during the tournament.
What they're saying: The West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative, one of the city's largest business associations, has helped organize legal trainings and hopes to assemble a "rapid response" network of attorneys for business owners and workers, president Jabari Jones tells Axios.
- "I definitely don't think you can take them at their word," he says. "You've got to be as prepared as you can be for the worst possible scenario. … Nobody wants to be in that position where you aren't prepared, and then they decide to do a crackdown, and then you've got chaos."
The bottom line: Jones says the tournament's projected economic upside could depend in part on whether visitors feel safe traveling to Philadelphia.
- "This is our Super Bowl right now," he says. "Either this opens up an incredible amount of new tourism opportunities for the city ... or it goes the other way, and it busts."
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.