Toronto's mayor moves to ban American border officials from the city's World Cup soccer games

A federal officer stood guard as protesters gathered while ICE operated in a Minneapolis residential neighborhood on January 13, 2026, following a fatal shooting incident involving an immigration officer and a woman protester.

US Homeland Security Chief Kristi Noem defended the officer's actions in multiple TV interviews, discussing the death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, which has sparked nationwide protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

Hundreds of additional federal agents were deployed to Minneapolis, despite demands from the city's Democratic leaders to leave, as announced by the US Homeland Security Chief on January 11.

Toronto's mayor, Olivia Chow, introduced a motion on Friday to ban US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from the city during the upcoming World Cup, citing their recent conduct as a source of "fear and disorder".

The motion, entitled "No ICE in Toronto", argues that the presence of ICE agents would create fear during a time when the city aims to welcome the world and ensure everyone's safety.

According to the ICE website, the force has a permanent presence in five Canadian cities: Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, and Ottawa, with Toronto and Vancouver being the only two hosting 2026 World Cup matches.

The World Cup tournament will be held across three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with Toronto hosting six matches and anticipating an elevated number of foreign visitors.

Organizers expect some global football fans may be reluctant to travel to the United States due to President Donald Trump's hardline immigration tactics, as stated in Mayor Chow's motion.

The motion also references protests in Italy ahead of the Milan Winter Olympics over the presence of ICE agents as part of the US delegation's security detail.

Additionally, the motion cites the recent large-scale operation against undocumented migrants in Minnesota, during which federal immigration agents fatally shot two US citizen protesters.

Mayor Chow's motion asserts that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has demonstrated through their actions in Minnesota and across the US that they bring "fear and disorder, not safety".