The World Cup will bring a lot to Seattle: visitors from around the globe, international attention and six matches at Lumen Field — and federal immigration agents. That last fact prompted about 50 people to gather Sunday at Judkins Park for a rally of songs and speeches opposing the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the region. The park, located about a mile southeast of the stadium, has become an important venue for political gatherings: it is one of the few open public spaces in the Central District, a historically Black neighborhood, giving it symbolic significance for racial justice movements, and its proximity to major transit hubs and the stadium allows activists to assemble quickly and draw media attention.
Unite Here Local 8 organizer Yunis Howe expressed concern that agents could use the games to detain local workers. The union, which represents 9,000 hospitality workers in Oregon and Washington, recently authorized a strike at the Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel near the stadium. Workers are demanding that the new contract include protections against ICE.
In February, a former ICE director confirmed the agency’s involvement in the tournament, calling it “a key part of the overall World Cup security apparatus.” He did not, however, specify how many additional agents would come to Seattle or what their roles would be. In a new statement, ICE says the agency will work with local and federal partners to secure the event in accordance with the law and the U.S. Constitution. Agents stress: “International visitors who lawfully come to the U.S. for the World Cup need not worry — the focus is only on undocumented immigrants.”
In response, King County Executive Geovany "Girimay" Zahilay instructed the sheriff’s office to inform the public about the differences between county deputies and federal immigration agents. A corresponding web page has been launched and is available in 17 languages.
Activists also fear the operation could serve as cover for expanded immigration enforcement and continued surveillance beyond the tournament. Seattle Indivisible president Kathleen Carson noted that the mayor has already activated surveillance cameras in the stadium area, which many had previously opposed. The expansion of that video-monitoring system is controversial: activists say the cameras that Mayor Bruce Harrell authorized police to access could be used to surveil protest participants and vulnerable groups — the homeless and communities of color. Critics also point to a lack of transparency: it’s unclear how long footage is retained and who has access, recalling the contentious “Operation Intelligence Center” program that was shut down in 2020 amid accusations of discriminatory monitoring. “We’re watching closely,” Carson added, expressing concern that agents could remain in the city after the World Cup ends.
Based on: ICE presence at World Cup gets cold reception from Seattle protesters