Immigrant Advocacy Groups Doubt Promises of Safety During FIFA World Cup
The Florida Immigration Coalition, alongside several immigrant advocacy organizations, expressed skepticism on Friday regarding the Trump administration’s assurances that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not conduct immigration enforcement during the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Miami next month.
This concern was amplified after comments made by Miami FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee Chairman Rodney Barreto, who stated in an interview with The Athletic that Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured him that “ICE will not be in the stadium.”
Barreto further reassured the public, saying, “A lot of people are worried about ICE’s presence at the stadium, but I’ve spoken to Marco Rubio, and he confirmed there will not be a mass enforcement operation during the event.” He spoke positively about the experience being one to enjoy, emphasizing the support the event is receiving from the administration.
However, Yarelis Zamora, the Florida state coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, rejected Barreto’s optimistic outlook. “Personal guarantees are not policy, and they do not offer real protections,” she stated. Zamora highlighted the need for a formal announcement prohibiting immigration enforcement activities during the tournament to ensure the safety of migrants, mixed-status families, and international visitors.
Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst with the Florida Immigration Coalition, reinforced these concerns, stating that local law enforcement’s involvement can heighten fear among mixed-status families. “In Florida, this is not just an ICE issue. Local police departments have been integrated into immigration enforcement through 287(g) agreements and similar partnerships. For many immigrant families, the line between ICE and local police has effectively vanishing,” he noted.
The Reach of Local Law Enforcement in Immigration Enforcement
All 67 counties in Florida have adopted 287(g) agreements with ICE, which permits local law enforcement to act as federal immigration agents in support of President Trump’s stringent deportation policies. This collaboration raises significant concerns for immigrant communities, who are increasingly uncertain about their safety amid a climate of heightened surveillance and enforcement.
Advocacy groups are calling for a formal, written public guarantee that would explicitly ban any immigration enforcement activities connected to the FIFA World Cup. They are also urging the federal government to impose a moratorium on enforcement actions linked to the tournament, along with clear public guidance prohibiting such operations at stadiums, fan zones, transport hubs, and hotels.
The FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across various cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Miami hosting several key matches. The 65,000-seat Hard Rock Stadium will feature four group stage games from June 15 to June 27, culminating in critical fixtures such as the quarterfinals on July 11 and the third-place match on July 18.
