ICE agents will not operate in Vancouver for 2026 FIFA World Cup, VPD chief says

Vancouver Police Department chief Steve Rai wrote that ICE has not been invited or approved to take part in security for the city's 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, and a city council motion to formally oppose any ICE deployment was ruled out of order.

Vancouver police chief Steve Rai has told council that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not operate in Vancouver for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The statement came in a letter shared ahead of a public council meeting where councillor Pete Fry moved to have council formally oppose any ICE deployment. That motion was ruled out of order during the meeting. City and policing officials said security planning for the tournament is being coordinated by the Vancouver Police Department alongside other Canadian agencies under Canadian law. What is known: - In a letter to council, VPD chief Steve Rai wrote that ICE is not being deployed, invited, or approved to participate in security operations for Vancouver's FIFA 2026 matches. - Rai said external policing agencies may operate in Vancouver only with express permission from the Vancouver Police Board, and no such request or permission from ICE has been made. - Rai reported consulting with the U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver and the BC RCMP, and said both confirmed ICE is not part of Vancouver's FIFA 2026 security apparatus. - A member motion by Green councillor Pete Fry to have council formally oppose any ICE deployment and to ask the federal government to reject one was brought to a public meeting but was ruled out of order. - Mayor Ken Sim issued a statement saying ICE has not been invited and does not have authorization to conduct immigration or policing operations in Vancouver. Summary: The VPD's written position, echoed by the mayor, states that ICE will not take part in Vancouver's FIFA 2026 security and that any external policing presence would require local board approval. Council did not vote on a formal opposition motion after it was ruled out of order. Security planning is described as a partnership of the VPD and Canadian agencies under Canadian governance. Undetermined at this time.