OTTAWA: United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has clarified that its personnel deployed in Canada do not carry firearms and do not conduct enforcement operations such as arrests or search warrants on Canadian soil.
In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said officials from its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) branch work alongside Canadian authorities on cross-border cases involving narcotics trafficking, weapons smuggling, human trafficking, and child exploitation. The agency stressed that operational law enforcement activities remain under Canadian jurisdiction.
ICE confirmed it maintains personnel at several diplomatic locations in Canada, including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa, where staff are attached to US embassies and consulates.
The clarification comes amid public debate in Canada over the possible presence of ICE-linked personnel during upcoming FIFA World Cup matches, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with games scheduled in Toronto and Vancouver.
Some Canadian officials and city councils have expressed opposition to any ICE involvement in World Cup security arrangements, arguing that Canadian law enforcement agencies alone should handle security operations during the tournament.
Federal authorities in Canada have also stated that ICE has no jurisdiction to carry out law enforcement activities within the country.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have raised concerns that the presence of US immigration enforcement personnel at major sporting events could create fear among migrant communities and discourage attendance.
ICE has previously faced criticism over its enforcement practices in the United States, including allegations of excessive use of force and civil rights violations, which continue to draw legal and political scrutiny.
