Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) introduced legislation aimed at blocking immigration enforcement activities by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at World Cup venues and public transit locations during the tournament this June. The bill, known as the “Safe Passage to the World Cup Act,” seeks to prohibit the use of federal DHS funds for civil immigration enforcement near World Cup sites from June 11 to July 19.
Legislative Efforts to Limit Immigration Enforcement Near World Cup Events
Swalwell’s bill would ban immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from conducting civil immigration enforcement on public transportation or terminals in cities hosting FIFA World Cup matches, including East Rutherford, N.J., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington. The legislation includes a narrow exception allowing “hot pursuit” in cases of imminent risk to public safety.
Swalwell, a former Division I collegiate soccer player, said the bill is designed to prevent racial and linguistic profiling and to ensure fans are not deterred from attending the international sporting event. “Our priority should be to showcase our best—not have police commandeering buses, trains, and public spaces,” he stated.
Companion Bills and Political Context
Rep. Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events, introduced a companion bill called the “Save the World Cup Act.” This bill would specifically ban immigration enforcement near the matches and festivals themselves, including in parking lots and fan areas, to prevent ICE enforcement from discouraging attendance.
Pou noted she asked ICE Director Todd Lyons for assurances against enforcement near stadiums, but Lyons declined to guarantee it. Another Democratic task force member, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), proposed legislation prohibiting state grants from funding civil immigration enforcement near World Cup sites. McIver is facing ongoing legal proceedings related to charges of assault on a federal agent.
DHS Response and Security Preparations
A DHS spokesperson confirmed the agency will collaborate with local and federal partners to secure World Cup events “in line with federal law and the U.S. Constitution,” emphasizing that international visitors legally attending the World Cup have no reason to fear immigration enforcement. The agency stressed that enforcement targets are determined by immigration status, not event attendance.
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