As World Cup nears, Toronto mayor moves to block U.S. ICE presence

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow wants city council to oppose any role for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Toronto during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is asking city council to oppose any role for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Toronto during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing the agency’s presence could “create fear” among visitors.

A motion, seconded by Coun. Paul Ainslie, will go before council next week and calls on the city to reject ICE involvement, direct staff to avoid supporting the agency, and urge both federal and provincial officials to oppose any deployment in Toronto.

“Toronto should be a place where everyone feels welcome and safe,” Chow wrote in the agenda item.

“Residents and visitors should be able to enjoy our city without fear.”

The mayor argues that ICE’s track record in the United States has created anxiety among immigrant communities and could have a chilling effect during a global event meant to celebrate diversity.

“Any presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Toronto is liable to create fear during a time when we want to welcome the world and ensure that everyone feels safe,” she wrote.

“City Council should be clear… No ICE in Toronto.”

Jurisdiction and precedent

The motion follows a similar effort in Vancouver that was ultimately ruled out of order. In that case, the council chair determined the motion was based on a hypothetical scenario after officials indicated ICE would not be present during World Cup events there.

• Vancouver council motion to oppose ICE at World Cup is ruled out of order

In Toronto, ICE does maintain a physical office near University Avenue and Richmond Street West, one of several locations the agency operates across Canada.

However, any operational role would be constrained by Canadian policy.

In fact, Global Affairs Canada says foreign law enforcement must notify Canadian authorities and seek approval before conducting investigative work in the country.

“This policy not only contributes to the safeguarding of Canadian sovereignty… it also allows to better protect the rights of Canadians,” the department said online.

What the motion would do

If adopted, the motion would formally register Toronto’s opposition and direct city staff to avoid cooperation with ICE, particularly during the World Cup.

It would also ask the federal minister of public safety, the minister of foreign affairs, and Ontario’s solicitor general to reject any ICE deployment in the city, and forward council’s position to the Toronto Police Service Board.

The vote is expected to test how far the city is willing to go in asserting its stance on immigration enforcement — and how it balances that with jurisdictional limits — as it prepares to host one of the world’s largest sporting events of the year.