Report Says ICE Has Used Soccer Events to Target Immigrants Ahead of World Cup

Overview

• The Human Rights Soccer Alliance published the report in mid‑June documenting at least 17 detentions or deportations of people tied to soccer since early 2025, including the deportation of player Emerson Colindres.
• The report cites U.S. government data saying ICE arrested 92,392 people in World Cup host cities between January 20 and October 15, 2025, and says operations have extended into parks, schools and community centers used for soccer.
• Activists protested outside FIFA’s Miami headquarters this week and urged the federation to bar immigration enforcement at World Cup sites, stop sharing fan data with authorities and tell teams not to cooperate without a judicial warrant.
• DHS and ICE say agents, including Homeland Security Investigations, will work on tournament security and that visitors legally in the U.S. should not worry, while NBC News reported stadium‑assigned ICE agents will not check spectators’ immigration status.
• The report says fear of enforcement has already canceled youth leagues and chilled community play, and the lack of a public, binding protocol on immigration actions at Cup venues raises practical uncertainty for players, families and traveling fans.