More than 120 immigrant rights groups have issued a travel warning to the 10 million visitors expected for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, citing 'serious rights violations' under the Trump administration. The warning highlights risks including 'arbitrary denial of entry and risk of arrest, detention and/or deportation' as the tournament kicks off on 11 June across 11 US host cities.
Activists are mobilising in response to conflicting signals from the Trump administration, which has not ruled out immigration enforcement near matches despite assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that ICE would not operate inside stadiums. The Department of Homeland Security stated it is working to ensure a 'safe and secure environment' for players, fans and communities.
In Los Angeles, a union representing over 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium is threatening to strike if ICE agents do not stay away from the venue. In Dallas, the civil rights group El Movimiento DFW is distributing 'whistle kits' with information on free immigration attorney consultations at churches and businesses.
Grassroots efforts include rapid response networks and legal aid resources. Police in Atlanta, Seattle and Los Angeles have announced they will not cooperate with ICE in enforcement matters, though bills prohibiting ICE activity near matches are stalled in the Republican-controlled House.
'When there’s a tenfold increase in the security apparatus, there’s a real risk that local residents – immigrants and non-immigrants – will be caught in the law enforcement dragnet,' said Jennifer Li of the national coalition Dignity 26. Organisers are connecting attorneys with rapid response groups and launching a fan embassy with immigration hotlines.
In Miami, which leads the country in immigration arrests, advocates are using a hotline operated by the Florida Rapid Response Alliance for Immigrant Safety and Empowerment, along with trained legal observers to document ICE presence. 'For us, those are two lifelines,' said organiser Yareliz Mendez-Zamora.
