Healey Rejects ICE Role at 7 Foxborough World Cup Matches as DHS Leaves Arrests Possible
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · May 29
Healey Rejects ICE Role at 7 Foxborough World Cup Matches as DHS Leaves Arrests Possible
3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · May 29
Maura Healey said "there's no place for ICE at the World Cup," rejecting any immigration-enforcement role at the seven matches Foxborough will host from June 13 to July 9.
Markwayne Mullin, the DHS secretary, said mass roundups are not planned but left open the possibility of immigration arrests at matches and has also floated disruptions to airport processing in host "sanctuary cities."
Todd Lyons, ICE's acting director, had said the agency would play a "key part" in World Cup security, though New York-New Jersey and Los Angeles host officials say they were told federal venue roles center on counterterrorism and other security tasks, not immigration enforcement.
About 2 million visitors are expected for the Foxborough games, while advocacy groups are pressing for an ICE moratorium and a pause to Trump-era travel bans affecting fans from Haiti, Iran, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal.
With travel bans and visa bonds, will thousands of fans be blocked from attending America's World Cup matches?
Could a federal-city clash over immigration turn the World Cup from a global celebration into a logistical nightmare?
Massachusetts vs. Federal Immigration Enforcement: The ICE Controversy at FIFA World Cup 2026
Overview
As Massachusetts prepares to host seven FIFA World Cup 2026 games, a major controversy has erupted between state leaders and federal authorities over the presence of ICE agents at the event. Governor Maura Healey’s strong opposition to ICE, citing past aggressive actions, clashes with federal officials’ insistence that ICE is needed for security, not mass enforcement. This dispute is part of a broader pattern of state pushback against federal immigration actions, highlighted by ongoing legal battles and legislative efforts. The tension raises concerns about Massachusetts’ reputation as a welcoming host and could impact the state’s ability to attract future global events.