A small group of protesters, including Arlington resident Rick Majumdar, gathered outside AT&T Stadium on Sunday to raise awareness about the potential presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Arlington during the FIFA World Cup.
Protesters’ Concerns
The protesters, who were organized by the Dallas chapter of National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, chanted in Spanish: “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido” — “The people united will never be defeated.” They wanted to show visitors and residents that they don’t accept the presence of ICE at the World Cup or throughout North Texas.
Majumdar, 33, said he wanted to raise awareness about the potential presence of ICE in Arlington as the city welcomed soccer fans from across the world for the match between the Netherlands and Japan. “We don’t need ICE. We’ve seen how repressive they’ve been to people,” Majumdar said.
Federal Response
Federal officials said they are not planning large-scale immigration enforcement actions during World Cup games. However, the Trump administration’s emphasis on curbing illegal immigration, as well as local examples of immigrants detained by ICE, have driven anxiety and unrest around whether ICE would patrol Arlington streets.
A spokesperson for the Arlington Police Department did not immediately return a request for comment on whether the department arrested protesters Sunday or were aware of any ICE detainments.
Community Response
Meanwhile, Pastor Joel Haynes of Arlington’s Trinity Baptist Church preached into a microphone headset as congregants from the church handed passersby flyers that read: “Don’t miss the goal that matters.” Haynes emphasized that “our efforts are best used going to the source of the problem, which is the sin that’s in every heart.”
Lili Macedo, 35, held a sign reading “Hands off our constitutional and civil rights.” The sign featured a photo of Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, his image circled and crossed out. “Stephen Miller, you’re fired,” was written underneath the image.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
