A coalition of Charlotte advocacy groups is pressing local police and event organizers to put it in writing: no cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at this Sunday’s U.S. men’s national team friendly on Sunday. The groups say fans, stadium workers and immigrant neighbors should be able to pack the stands without worrying that a soccer ticket could double as a risk to their immigration status.
What activists want
The organizers have asked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to pledge they will not work with ICE agents around the match, and to create clearly marked "immigration enforcement-free" zones near game-related sites, according to WCNC. They frame the move as a basic public-safety measure meant to protect fans, stadium staff and surrounding businesses.
Where the game will be
The U.S. men’s friendly is set for Sunday, May 31, at Bank of America Stadium, with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff that was confirmed when the match was announced. Charlotte FC bills the matchup as one of the national team’s final send-offs before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Why advocates are alarmed
Supporters of the pledge point back to last fall’s federal enforcement operation, widely known as "Operation Charlotte’s Web," and say memories of heavy federal activity in immigrant neighborhoods are still fresh. An ACLU of North Carolina Freedom of Information Act request and coalition letter describe widespread confusion, fear and long-lasting harms after the November sweep, and ask federal agencies to turn over records that could clarify how broad the operation really was, according to the ACLU of North Carolina.
Recent local reporting has found that small businesses and workers are still feeling the ripple effects, including the economic and community fallout from the raids, as detailed in a look at ICE raids still haunting Charlotte’s immigrant corridors.
National tug-of-war
The Charlotte push is part of a bigger national fight over who polices major soccer events. Labor and community groups around the country have urged similar protections. The AFL-CIO sent a letter calling on FIFA to keep ICE out of World Cup host cities and to limit the Department of Homeland Security’s role to operational security. The AFL-CIO framed its request as a way to protect workers and attendees, not to pick a fight with federal law enforcement.
At the same time, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has tried to calm nerves, telling CBS News he does not expect ICE to be at the World Cup to "round up" people. He stopped short of completely ruling out arrests in specific circumstances, leaving advocates to read between the lines.
What to watch
Which agencies end up signing off on match-day security will determine whether activists’ demands become enforceable rules or stay as public pressure. City officials, stadium operators, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police and potential federal partners all have a say in how security is written up and who shows up at the gates.
Event operators say they coordinate with local partners for marquee matches and plan to finalize logistics before the weekend. Charlotte FC has emphasized working with local organizations as part of its planning.
Advocates, for their part, say they will be watching closely. Their ask is straightforward: clear, written guarantees that immigrant fans and workers can share the stadium without fear of immigration enforcement. It will be up to city leaders, stadium management and law enforcement to decide, in short order, whether those promises make it into the playbook before Sunday’s opening whistle.
