ANALYSIS | ICE Offices In Canada Raise Concerns Ahead Of FIFA World Cup
Photo Credit: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters via CBC News
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing criticism and concern from Canadians ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which millions of fans are expected to attend. ICE currently has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. A number of residents and government officials have voiced opposition to ICE’s presence, as the agency would “create fear [among visitors],” Toronto mayor Olivia Chow said, according to CTV News.
Since US President Donald Trump’s re-election in 2024, ICE has been a leading force in the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in the country.
In January, during the immigration crackdown, ICE agents shot two US citizens in separate controversial events in Minneapolis. "They are not here to cause safety in this city. What they are doing is not to provide safety in America. What they are doing is causing chaos and distrust.” said Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey.
However, in Canada, ICE must abide by strict restrictions on its conduct. For instance, ICE agents cannot carry firearms, and they are only responsible for monitoring transnational risks such as human trafficking, organized crime, cross-border smuggling, and potential large-scale threats. They are not allowed to conduct any arrests on Canadian soil, enforce any immigration laws, nor can they operate independently of Canadian agencies. “Any policing, public safety response, or interaction with residents and visitors has to be handled entirely by Canadian authorities,” Langley News states.
Despite these assurances, government officials and citizens remain concerned over possible ICE activity in Canada. Vancouver and Toronto, the two Canadian cities hosting the World Cup, have both launched measures to fully reject ICE involvement. Vancouver city councillor Sean Orr suggests that if ICE agents do appear at any of the World Cup matches, boycotts and protests could be launched throughout Vancouver, which could potentially pose a danger to the safety of visitors and residents, as per CBC.
However, in February, a Vancouver council motion aimed at preventing ICE involvement in World Cup games did not go to a vote after being ruled out of order. According to Councillor Mike Klassen, the motion was incorrect because it implied that ICE would be deployed, even though it “has been made clear from correspondence" council received that ICE would not be present during any of the World Cup games occurring in Vancouver, according to CBC.
Presently, the only possibility of ICE agents being deployed to Vancouver soccer matches is if the US men’s national team and the Canadian men’s national team both advance to the Round of 16 knockout round of the tournament on July 7. The chances of this happening are extremely low, at about one per cent, as stated by CBC.
Toronto is attempting to take a similar approach. Chow went to the city council in late March and has yet to hear back from Ottawa, according to The Canadian Press. She mentioned in the agenda item that “Toronto should be a place where everyone feels safe. Residents and visitors should be able to enjoy our city without fear.” She explicitly mentioned that “City Council should be clear [… ] No ICE in Toronto.”