Mayor Olivia Chow seeks to ban US immigration agents from Toronto during the 2026 World Cup, citing their actions as creating “fear and disorder” for visitors.
MAYOR Olivia Chow moved to ban US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from the city during this summer’s World Cup. Her motion, entitled “No ICE in Toronto”, argues their presence “is liable to create fear during a time when we want to welcome the world”.
The motion states that ICE’s recent conduct proves they bring “fear and disorder, not safety”. It specifically references a recent large-scale operation in Minnesota where federal agents shot dead two protesters who were US citizens.
“Unfortunately, the actions of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement have cast doubt on the ability of many to visit or live in the United States and beyond safely,” Chow’s motion says. Toronto is one of five Canadian cities where ICE maintains a permanent presence, alongside Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and Ottawa.
Only Toronto and Vancouver are hosting 2026 World Cup matches in Canada. The tournament is being spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada for the first time.
Toronto is hosting six matches, but organisers have prepared for an elevated number of foreign visitors. They anticipated some global football fans may be reluctant to travel to the United States because of President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration tactics.
There were protests in Italy ahead of this year’s Milan Winter Olympics over the presence of some ICE agents as part of security for the US delegation. Chow’s motion seeks to prevent a similar controversy during the World Cup festivities in Toronto.
