Federal officials have assured Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna that civil immigration enforcement will not be conducted at World Cup games or associated events in the city. The announcement came on Monday as authorities detailed comprehensive security plans for the eight matches scheduled to begin on 12 June.
Sheriff Luna addressed earlier "reporting, or rumours, about ICE potentially being at the Fifa games or events" during a press conference with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials. He confirmed that federal agents would be present to ensure the security of all venues and events, both scoped and unscoped. However, he clarified: "But in regard to civil immigration enforcement, they told us that specifically would not be occurring at any of the games. Any of that is subject to change, but I have trust that they're giving me the appropriate information because if that starts occurring, we're going to have a whole new host of problems."
Background and Security Concerns
The assurance follows previous immigration raids by masked ICE agents in Los Angeles last year, which sparked widespread demonstrations. Security measures will be significantly heightened around Iran's two matches in Los Angeles, with authorities closely monitoring for potential protests or other activities near the stadium and fan zones. Iran are set to play its first tournament match on 15 June at SoFi Stadium, located in a region home to the largest concentration of Iranians outside Iran. Sheriff Luna noted that "Iran does bring a different dynamic because of the current world events," confirming that "there will be additional staffing for some of those games."
Zero Tolerance for Drone Violations
Officials also issued a stern warning regarding unauthorised drone usage near World Cup venues, confirming a "zero tolerance policy" for violators. Temporary flight restrictions are anticipated around facilities. Patrick Grandy, FBI assistant director in charge, stated: "If a drone's violating a temporary flight restriction, the capability exists to bring that drone down into a safe location away from the crowds." He added: "We are going to be constantly monitoring the areas around the facilities, looking for violators of those temporary flight restrictions."
Unprecedented Law Enforcement Presence
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman underscored the unprecedented scale of law enforcement presence during the tournament. He issued a direct warning to potential offenders: "Between the dates of 11 June, all the way through 19 July, if you are a criminal, this is a terrible time to commit a crime. The district attorney's office will prosecute you, and you will be punished."
