ICE to remain absent from World Cup games in Miami

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not be present at World Cup matches this summer, according to Rodney Barreto, co-chair of the Miami host committee. Barreto stated on Thursday that he received assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that ICE would not attend the events.

Barreto confirmed that “ICE is not going to be at the stadium” and emphasized that the purpose of the World Cup was not to conduct immigration-enforcement raids. He also mentioned that Rubio would ensure a smooth process for passport processing, allowing attendees to move freely without delays.

The deployment of ICE for immigration enforcement has increased since Donald Trump’s second term as president began last year, sparking debate in the US. The Miami World Cup hosting committee took a cautious approach after a recent incident at the 2024 Copa America championship game, where fans stormed the gates at Hard Rock Stadium, causing injuries and delaying the start of a match.

Barreto acknowledged that the lack of perimeters during the previous event contributed to the chaos. However, he emphasized that the committee has learned from the experience and is working to implement new measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Source: Al Jazeera