Immigrant advocates in Florida are demanding formal guarantees that immigration enforcement operations will not target FIFA World Cup venues or visitors during the 2026 tournament in Miami. Advocacy groups say private assurances are insufficient, while tourism leaders argue fears for international visitors may be overstated despite broader concerns about US immigration policies.
Miami – Immigration advocacy organizations are raising concerns following comments by Rodney Barreto, chair of the Miami FIFA World Cup Host Committee, who said The Athletic he received personal assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that immigration enforcement agents would not operate at FIFA World Cup venues during the 2026 tournament.
Advocates argue that informal conversations behind closed doors are insufficient amid what they describe as a dramatic escalation of immigration enforcement activity across Florida and the United States.
“A personal assurance is not policy, and it is not protection,” said Yareliz Zamora, Florida coordinator for American Friends Service Committee. “If the administration truly intends to ensure that everyone who wants to attend World Cup events safely can do so, without the threat of being kidnapped by their detention and deportation goons, then it must formally announce a moratorium on immigration enforcement connected to the tournament.”
Advocates note that concerns extend beyond federal immigration agents. Through expanded 287(g) agreements and other enforcement partnerships, local law enforcement agencies throughout Florida have increasingly participated in immigration enforcement activities.
“In Florida, this is not simply an ICE issue,” said Thomas Kennedy, policy analyst with the Florida Immigrant Coalition. “Local police departments have been transformed into immigration agents through 287(g) agreements and other enforcement partnerships. For many Floridians across the spectrum, there is no meaningful distinction between ICE and local police anymore.”
The organizations say that without formal public guarantees prohibiting immigration enforcement activity before and during the World Cup, fear and uncertainty will continue to overshadow the tournament for immigrant communities and international visitors alike.
The groups are calling for:
- A formal federal moratorium on immigration enforcement operations tied to FIFA World Cup events and surrounding areas.
- Clear public guidance prohibiting enforcement actions at stadiums, fan zones, transit hubs, hotels, and related events.
- Transparency regarding the role of local law enforcement agencies participating in immigration enforcement partnerships.
The concerns arise as the United States prepares to host millions of international visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. Tourism and travel organizations have repeatedly emphasized that smooth entry procedures and a welcoming atmosphere will be critical to the event’s success.
In April, the US Travel Association condemned campaigns perceived as undermining confidence in travel to the United States ahead of the World Cup.
The debate also highlights broader tensions surrounding immigration policy and the country’s global image. The Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC) has been among the organizations warning that intensified enforcement measures risk discouraging international participation and damaging community trust.
At the same time, some tourism leaders believe fears of direct targeting of international soccer fans may be overstated.
Juergen Steinmetz, chairman of the World Tourism Network, stated:
“As much as we understand FLIC and had condemn campaigns by ICE, making US visas close to impossible to get for some, we understand that during FIFA, ICE is definitely not targeting foreign visitors unless they fail to return home, and after the event. Therefore, we think the concerns by FLIC are baseless to be feared by visitors during FIFA, but very relevant to the resentment of foreigners by some in the US, and the reckless actions undertaken by some ICE actions. Most Americans are excited and proud to host FIFA in the United States.”
The FIFA World Cup is expected to be one of the largest tourism events ever hosted in the United States, with Miami serving as one of the key host cities. Advocates and tourism officials alike agree that how immigration enforcement policies are handled in the months leading up to the tournament could significantly shape the international perception of the United States as a welcoming destination.