Federal agents arrested more than 900 suspected human traffickers and rescued 180 victims, including 30 children, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. These operations were conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in coordination with the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated, "While Americans and international visitors were enjoying the FIFA World Cup, the men and women of ICE law enforcement were hard at work cracking down on human trafficking operations in FIFA host cities across the country."

One notable case occurred in Dallas, where HSI agents arrested eight individuals accused of running an adult bookstore that investigators said had secretly operated as a brothel for over 20 years. The investigation, which began in 2023, revealed that thousands of adults and children were allegedly sold for sex through the business.

In addition to human trafficking arrests, DHS reported seizing more than 700 unauthorized drones, inspecting over 19,000 vehicles headed to stadiums and fan festivals, and confiscating hundreds of thousands of counterfeit World Cup merchandise items valued at more than $33 million.

Federal law enforcement efforts during the World Cup were part of a broader security operation that also included successful management of the Milan Olympics and Formula 1 races, with FBI Director Kash Patel highlighting zero major security incidents. Patel credited President Trump's leadership for establishing protocols and deploying over 5,000 personnel.

These coordinated efforts underscore ongoing commitments to dismantle human trafficking networks and enhance security at major international events.

Sources