Amid prospect of ICE at World Cup games, vendors weigh livelihoods against safety

World CupAmid prospect of ICE at World Cup games, vendors weigh livelihoods against safetyDHS officials say ICE officers may be at matches. Vendors planning to sell in and around SoFi Stadium say it’s a gamble between their safety and a potentially lucrative payday.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Henrry Josue, a 23-year-old vendor, sells hot dogs outside a Charlie Puth concert at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, Calif., on April 29.Damon Casarez for NBC NewsShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 18, 2026, 11:00 AM EDTBy Marlene LenthangLOS ANGELES — With the World Cup fast approaching, Southern California is bracing for a wave of international fans and elite soccer stars. But there’s another potential arrival causing unease: ICE agents.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Latino vendors, fixtures outside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and other venues around the region, often sell merch and food after concerts and sporting events. Some are expressing concern about ICE potentially working the games. And workers at SoFi Stadium — set to host eight games starting June 12 — are threatening to strike if ICE is there, citing fear for their safety.Last June, the Los Angeles area was the site of sprawling immigration raids in which the Trump administration targeted day laborers and factory workers. Widespread protests followed, along with some clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement and the deployment of the National Guard.“We always have this worry that we’re going to be more on the lookout for immigration [rather] than focused on selling,” said Henrry Josue, a 23-year-old hot dog vendor who did not disclose his legal status but plans to set up his stand during the World Cup.“We came to make money, not cause problems,” he said.Labor activists march alongside a truck through MacArthur Park during a May Day demonstration in Los Angeles on May 1.Justin Sullivan / Getty Images fileNBC News reported last...