The ongoing shutdown over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding is creating potential disruptions for security during the FIFA World Cup, which has many lawmakers feeling anxious as cities gear up to host the games this summer.
Republicans in Congress are cautioning that this shutdown could delay preparations for host cities across both blue and red states, particularly regarding convention plans later this year. “If we don’t get it, I think we’ll be concerned pretty quickly,” said Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri.
The World Cup is set to kick off in June, with matches taking place across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. American cities like New Jersey, New York, Boston, Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle will host various events. The DHS is crucial for coordinating security as local authorities prepare for a surge of international visitors.
Currently, negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats have stalled, resulting in a two-week shutdown. Senator Andy Kim from New Jersey mentioned he frequently communicates with local officials regarding World Cup plans, yet hasn’t received any reports about concerns stemming from the shutdown.
Meanwhile, Democrats are holding up DHS funding in pursuit of reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with both sides still at an impasse. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) indicated that the shutdown might hinder the preparations for the World Cup, but similarly, he hasn’t encountered significant worries from local officials. “It seems like the Democrats have taken the wrong approach here,” Cornyn remarked, implying that the angst over immigration enforcement is impacting unrelated agencies, like the TSA and FEMA.
On the other hand, Senate Democrats state there’s been little push from the White House to expedite reopening DHS, noting that negotiations have slowed significantly recently. While Republicans point fingers at the Trump administration for the problem, they have also resisted certain proposals, such as requiring ICE agents to obtain judicial warrants.
Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts said she hasn’t heard from Boston officials regarding World Cup disruptions either and believes that asking ICE to adhere to the same standards as other local police forces is quite reasonable. She dismissed criticisms towards Democrats as just more political theatrics, stating, “Well, it looks like business as usual for the Trump administration. It’s all talk and no action.”
