ICE at the 2026 World Cup: Explaining the agency’s security role, fan concerns
“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the controversial government agency known as ICE, will play a ‘key part’ in the 2026 World Cup’s ‘overall security apparatus,’ its acting director said Tuesday. And as his comments spread through soccer circles, via media, they reinforced concerns — but also got misrepresented and misunderstood. The director, Todd Lyons, specified that ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations arm would play the ‘key’ World Cup role. HSI is distinct and largely separate from ICE’s other arm, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). ERO is the arm that’s sparked controversy in Minneapolis and other communities. …”
NY Times/The Athletic