The FIFA organizing committee in Houston confirmed that agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be present during the World Cup. However, they clarified that their role will not be tied to immigration enforcement. “As we understand it, ICE will play a role in security and pro tection around the World Cup — as it does at Super Bowls and other major events – but will not be conducting immigration activities,” said Chris Canetti, president of the World Cup organizing committee in Houston. Canetti emphasized that his committee has no involvement in this decision. When asked about fears within the immigrant community, he simply replied: “That’s not a question for me, to be honest.” Trump administration Jun 12, 2025 Border Patrol will be at Club World Cup, says it's routine to provide security for such events World Cup Jun 10, 2025 World Cup host city organizers acknowledge immigration crackdown may impact 2026 tournament However, immigration attorney Silvia Mintz believes the situation could have consequences. “This is going to affect fans and also trust in authorities when it comes to reporting crimes,” she warned. She added that it is important to “not give reasons for interactions with police.” “We have to remember that, even though they are immigration officers, they are law enforcement agents, and if a crime is being committed or a rule is being violated, they can intervene and initiate a process,” she said. NBC’s affiliate Telemundo Houston asked ICE what authority its agents would have in this context, but had received no response by press time. It is worth noting that ICE is part of the Department of Homeland Security, a key agency at large-scale events like this. For that reason, some experts believe this is not a targeted immigration strategy, but rather the use of available resources, in this case federal agents. ...read more read less