Federal immigration agents will be deployed at this summer's FIFA World Cup, but their focus will be on human trafficking and counterfeit goods rather than immigration enforcement, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed.
In a video posted on Friday, Mullin stated that personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations will operate near match sites. They are “going to be out there every day fighting against the counterfeit tickets, human trafficking, drug smuggling, counterfeit products,” Mullin said while holding a soccer ball. “They're going to be working hand in hand with [Customs and Border Protection] along the way.”
Mullin did not specify whether agents would carry out enforcement actions aimed at detaining undocumented immigrants, a concern that has intensified ahead of the tournament. Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, his administration has aggressively pursued arrests and deportations. Earlier this month, NBC News reported that ICE had offered to deploy personnel to assist with security during World Cup matches.
“Our agents and officers are going to provide security when asked, but they will not be screening people for immigration status,” one unnamed DHS official told NBC News. However, agents have not been explicitly prohibited from making arrests, sources said.
This report contradicted earlier assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly told Rodney Barreto, co-chair of Miami's hosting committee, that ICE would not be present at the games. Concerns about immigration personnel reportedly reached FIFA's highest levels. In April, executives considered asking President Trump to institute a nationwide moratorium on ICE enforcement for the tournament's duration, according to The Athletic. It remains unclear whether the request was made.
ICE has been at the forefront of Trump's immigration crackdown, deploying nationwide and detaining approximately 400,000 people since January 2025, according to Brookings. Some encounters have turned deadly, including a January incident in Minnesota where two U.S. citizens were shot and killed by federal agents, sparking public outcry. A PBS News poll in February found that most respondents believe ICE is making the country less safe, with nearly two-thirds saying the agency has “gone too far.”
In February, Trump acknowledged that agents could use a “softer touch.” The following month, amid mounting criticism, he fired Kristi Noem as DHS chief and replaced her with Mullin, who has pledged to rebuild public trust in the department.
Scheduled from June 11 to July 19, the World Cup will be held in 16 host cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, featuring 48 teams playing a record 104 matches. FIFA reports that five million tickets have already been sold.
