World Cup spectators have voiced their concerns after US President Donald Trump confirmed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE) will be at airports to help with security measures.
Trump, 79, confirmed the move via the social media platform Truth Social, explaining that operations were due to begin on March 23.
This comes after a partial government shutdown impacting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has led to lengthy delays at airports across the country.
The issue also relates to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff going without pay, since funding to the DHS was cut in February due to Congress failing to come to an agreement.
Advert
Confirming the news, Trump posted the following statement on Truth Social: “ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all.
"But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work. THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB. The great Tom Homan is in charge!!! President DJT.”
Homan, the White House Border Tsar, claimed that ICE agents would not be involved in the screening of passengers and instead would be used to help existing TSA staff during busy periods.
However, this did not stop football fans from voicing their concerns online about the presence of ICE.
One said: “Do you have a ticket for the World Cup in the USA? Sell it.”
Another added: “If the World Cup weren't already in peril in the US due to draconian action by ICE agents across the country, now Donald wants to have ICE agents replace TSA at airports?”
While a third claimed: “This seems like a good reason for @FIFAcom to move the @FIFAWorldCup to a safer country.”
ICE has already come under criticism for the killings of two US citizens – Renee Good and Alex Pretti – in Minneapolis in January this year. Their deaths sparked protests and widespread outrage throughout the nation and the rest of the world.
Concerns also remain over fans travelling from countries currently on the Trump administration's banned list – World Cup nations Haiti and Iran are under full restrictions, while partial restrictions apply to Ivory Coast and Senegal.
Seventy-eight of the 104 matches will be played in the US during the World Cup, including the final, which will be played at MetLife Stadium.
Topics: Donald Trump, FIFA World Cup, Football
Luke Davies