Los Angeles World Cup stadium workers plan strike due to immigration concerns

Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have announced plans to go on strike if federal immigration enforcement agents are deployed at the venue during FIFA World Cup matches. The UNITE HERE Local 11 labor union, representing approximately 2,000 hospitality employees, has issued a demand for federal guarantees that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not be present during the tournament.

The stadium, set to host eight World Cup games, including the opening fixture for the United States on June 12, will feature a mix of food and beverage concession staff. Workers are concerned that an ICE presence would create a climate of fear among themselves and fans. A protest was held outside the venue, where workers expressed their opposition to the agency’s involvement.

The union has also raised concerns over FIFA’s accreditation process, which requires employees to submit personal data before the tournament. The workers have asked FIFA not to share this information with ICE agencies, foreign countries, or intelligence services.

A supporter of the strike, Tom Steyer, a Democratic candidate in California’s gubernatorial race, stated that ICE’s mandate is border control and questioned its relevance to the World Cup. “Can anyone explain what that has to do with the World Cup? Nothing,” he said.

Source: Al Jazeera