Here’s an idea: let’s hold FIFA World Cup games in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, but let’s make sure workers aren’t vetted, even though we’ve been in military conflict with Iran and are at constant risk of a terrorist attack. And let’s make sure federal law enforcement isn’t involved with security, because they’re secretly evil and just want to jail regular Americans.
Sound ludicrous? Yet, that’s just what the union representing over 2,000 SoFi workers, UNITE HERE Local 11, is demanding. They sent a complaint to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, co-signed by the ACLU, saying they don’t want to put the employees “at risk”:
The letter alleges FIFA’s sharing of sensitive private information with local, regional and federal government authorities for the purpose of background checks on workers has the potential to put employees at risk of being targeted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
They had plenty of other demands:
Among its key priorities, the union has called on FIFA to make a public commitment that ICE agents will not be permitted at World Cup venues during the World Cup. The union says this request is necessary in order to avoid safety risks to its workers. The union, in a series of demands made to FIFA and the Kroenkes (the stadium owners) in April, also wants restrictions on the use of subcontractors operating at SoFi Stadium, while also requesting that FIFA does not permit any artificial intelligence or automation at the arena, which may eliminate union jobs.
The obvious question: what “safety risks” are they concerned about? If the employees are here legally, why would they be afraid of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?
A union representing 2,000 cooks, servers and bartenders at SoFi pressed FIFA to ensure federal immigration agents have no role in World Cup security. UNITE HERE Local 11 filed a formal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.https://t.co/GujGaQCzIG
— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) April 20, 2026
The union is outraged that employees would have to provide information regarding their identity. You mean, like how just about everyone else who works for a corporation has to? I once coached T-ball for five-year-olds, and I had to go get a background check. But workers at an obvious potential terror target should just be trusted?
The union is concerned that ICE would conduct raids at the games, but the Trump administration has indicated that’s not going to happen:
In an interview with The Athletic published this week, Miami host committee co-chair Rodney Barreto sought to play down fears about ICE, saying he had received personal assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that ICE will not be at stadiums, with Barreto adding: “This is not going to turn into some ’round them up’ type of thing”.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons did say in February, however, that ICE would play a "key part" in ensuring security during the tournament — as they should.
The @LosAngelesFWC26 is coming up fast. The workers who cook the food & serve the drinks @SoFiStadium are asking @FIFAcom to ensure ICE plays NO role in the tournament, citing safety concerns. #mayday #worldcup pic.twitter.com/bdN5u1wWCX
— UNITE HERE Local 11 (@unitehere11) May 1, 2026
Security at the World Cup is deadly serious, and no stone can be left unturned. DHS should tell this union to pound sand.
Editor’s Note: ICE and CBP continue to put themselves in harm's way in order to protect America’s sovereignty and to keep our streets safe.
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