The 2026 FIFA World Cup is behind us, and the Department of Homeland Security, partnered with the FBI and local law enforcement, did an admirable job of keeping people safe and securing the infrastructure and corporate sponsorship used to host the games. One of those modes of security was a sky perimeter and drone restrictions, which were set around every World Cup host venue.
Dallas, which hosted the most games, was particularly coordinated.
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security and local police departments across the country worked together to enforce the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restrictions during the World Cup events that wrapped up Sunday, leading to the seizure of 700-plus unauthorized drones.
[...]
While the different law enforcement groups were operating in a “similar” way to day-to-day operations, there were, of course, differences. The FAA instituted temporary flight restrictions for a lengthy list of locations, including stadiums, fan-fest sites, team hotels, base camps and training facilities.
For good reason. One need look no further than the Iran conflict and the Ukraine War to see how drone weaponization is becoming part of the art of war. Now it's part and parcel of the art of domestic terrorism. Remember the foiled terrorist attack plotted against the America 250 UFC match on the White House lawn, where the brain trusts wanted to wipe out President Donald Trump and the entire cabinet, then use drones to murder and terrorize the attendees? This type of threat is becoming all too familiar.
While Kansas City, MO, hosted fewer games than Dallas, it had its share of trouble with human trafficking and counterfeit merchandise, as RedState reported. But the city did have one person arrested for flying a drone into restricted space during a FIFA World Cup game.
Three guesses on what his immigration status was.
NEW: ICE identifies a man arrested by Kansas City police for flying a drone in a no fly zone during the FIFA World Cup as a previously deported Mexican illegal alien with a lengthy criminal history. ICE says they were notified Jose Garrido-Benitez is in the US illegally after his… pic.twitter.com/AihSk0bUre
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) August 3, 2026
NEW: ICE identifies a man arrested by Kansas City police for flying a drone in a no fly zone during the FIFA World Cup as a previously deported Mexican illegal alien with a lengthy criminal history. ICE says they were notified Jose Garrido-Benitez is in the US illegally after his arrest for flying the drone near Arrowhead Stadium and they took custody of him and federal agents seized his drone.
ICE says Garrido-Benitez was arrested by law enforcement in Missouri and Kansas six times between 1999 and 2004 and was previously deported in 2003 but illegally re-entered, which is a felony.
He was convicted of felony forgery in 2004 and spent five years in a Missouri prison. He is now in ICE custody and in deportation proceedings.
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) law enforcement arrested an illegal alien who was caught flying a drone in restricted airspace near a FIFA event in Kansas City, Missouri.
On July 3, Jose Gerardo Garrido-Benitez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was flying a drone within 2.5 miles of Arrowhead Stadium, where World Cup festivities were taking place. Federal agents seized his drone and notified ICE, who arrested him on July 6. He remains in ICE custody pending removal.
Who does such a deliberate act at an international event where everyone knows there will be tightened security protocols? Perhaps someone working covert ops for another country or the Mexican cartels? My bets are on the latter, particularly with the number of times this genius traveled back and forth across the Southern border and his time in the pen.
As Melugin outlined above, Garrido-Benitez's rap sheet is as long as Shaquille O'Neal's arm.
Garrido-Benitez has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for felony forgery and driving while intoxicated, and prior arrests for battery, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, and possession of opiates, opium, or narcotic drugs.
“This criminal illegal alien dangerously flew a drone in restricted airspace near a FIFA event in Kansas City, Missouri,” said Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “His lengthy criminal history includes driving while intoxicated, forgery, battery, and possession of drugs. The Trump Administration will not allow illegal aliens to threaten the safety and security of the American people. We will continue to guarantee the safety of all who attend these historic games as the World Cup comes to an end.”
Note the years Garrido-Benitez was most active: at the end of President Bill Clinton's second term, and during George W. Bush's first.
Curious.
Kansas City is a wannabe sanctuary city in a mostly red state, so the fact that Garrido-Benitez was released from prison and allowed to thrive there before ICE apprehended him is no surprise.
If my assessment is correct about Garrido-Benitez's connections, more bets could be placed on when he'll try to enter the U.S. again. DHS and ICE will no doubt keep their head on a swivel, as it appears this guy is not your average illegal alien.
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left's lies, new legislation wasn't needed to secure our border, just a new president.
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