New Pou Report: World Cup Success Masked Federal Security Issues

October 29, 2026 Press Release 100 Days After World Cup Final, Congressional Report Details ICE Enforcement Uncertainty, Delays in $625 Million Aid, and Lessons for 2028 Olympics WASHINGTON, DC – Marking 100 days since the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup this week, Congressmember Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), the Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Task Force on Special Events, today released a new official report detailing how the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and mishandling of federal security money created unnecessary security risks before and during the tournament. The report, issued by minority members of the Task Force, examines shortcomings in federal security coordination and the botched distribution of $625 million in congressionally appropriated security money. Those delays threatened World Cup match permits in Massachusetts, a major fan festival in Miami, and security operations in Kansas City. The report is also signed by fellow Task Force members Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10) and Congressman Al Green (D-TX-09). “The World Cup was an extraordinary success, including in New Jersey where we proudly hosted the historic championship final. I again commend our local, state, and federal law enforcement officers whose careful work kept millions of fans and visitors safe,” said Congresswoman Pou. “But that success should not prevent us from examining what could have gone better. Our new report identifies several avoidable problems with immigration enforcement, security coordination, and delays in federal money that complicated preparations for the tournament.” Pou concluded: “With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics fast approaching, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to learn from our experiences in the 2026 World Cup. I hope our findings will help strengthen security preparations for the Olympics and other major events America will host in the years ahead.” Key Report Findings Immigration Enforcement: ICE’s expanded operations and refusal to rule out civil immigration enforcement at World Cup events created uncertainty for fans and host communities. Security Coordination: Conflicting guidance about ICE’s role complicated local security planning, while congressional requests for information were ignored. Tourism and Local Economies: Immigration enforcement fears and threats to withdraw airport customs personnel needlessly risked discouraging visitors and harming local businesses. Federal Funding Delays: DHS missed its own deadline for awarding $625 million in World Cup security funding by nearly seven weeks, jeopardizing local security preparations. FEMA Cuts and Mismanagement: DHS carried out mass firings, encouraged resignations, and diverted personnel from their primary responsibilities to support ICE and CBP operations. President Trump repeatedly called for eliminating FEMA, even as the agency administered World Cup security money. With Congress already providing $1 billion for security at the 2028 Olympics, the Task Force report urges DHS to set transparent funding rules and ensure FEMA has the manpower needed to deliver those resources on time. As the top Democrat on the Task Force, Ranking Member Pou helped lead congressional oversight of World Cup security, including hearings examining human trafficking prevention and coordination among local, state, and federal law enforcement. At a February 2026 oversight hearing, then-ICE Director Todd Lyons refused to rule out civil immigration enforcement at the World Cup when directly questioned by Pou. Pou subsequently led Democratic Task Force members in demanding an emergency hearing on the Trump administration’s immigration plans. The hearing was never held by the majority, and written questions to ICE and CBP went unanswered. In March 2026, Pou introduced the Save the World Cup Act ( H.R. 7986 ) to ban civil immigration enforcement at World Cup matches and fan festivals. Pou also repeatedly pressed DHS to release the $625 million Congress appropriated specifically for World Cup security. Following pressure from Pou and other committee members, DHS finally announced grant awards on March 18, 2026, nearly seven weeks after its own deadline. The report today documents how the delays threatened security preparations in several host cities and calls for reforms to prevent similar problems ahead of the 2028 Olympics. A copy of the full Task Force Minority Report is available here . A one-page summary of the report’s findings is available here . ###