Immigration and Customs Enforcement has avoided direct involvement in crowd control during the final week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, focusing instead on counterfeiting and human trafficking investigations.

The agency’s restraint follows concerns raised by Democrats and Republicans about potential confrontations between enforcement personnel and fans or players, which could have created diplomatic incidents.

DHS Secretary Mark Mullin said there was no specific guidance to limit ICE’s activities and that fears were unfounded, adding that the department has worked with federal, state and local partners to ensure stadium security.

Representative Nellie Pou noted she had not seen any significant reports of ICE misconduct, while Representative Michael McCaul said the agency’s role is to combat human trafficking rather than deport individuals, crediting the department’s restraint as positive.

Other immigration‑related incidents, such as CBP’s denial of entry to a Somali‑born referee and restrictions placed on Iran’s national team, have occurred outside major public view and have not been linked to ICE actions.

Representative Sydney Kamlager‑Dove warned that some of these actions create the appearance of a double standard, but said she is grateful that ICE has not been used to terrorize fans.

The department said it will continue to work with partners to keep the tournament safe and secure.