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H.R. 7988House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Safe Passage to the World Cup Act

Sponsored by Eric SwalwellRep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Introduced March 18, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated March 19, 2026 at 8:24 AM UTC

The Safe Passage to the World Cup Act bars the use of federal funds for civil immigration enforcement on public transportation in cities hosting 2026 FIFA World Cup matches or fan festivals during the tournament period, except in emergency situations. It aims to keep transit systems free from immigration checks for travelers and residents during the event, affecting DHS, DOJ, and anyone using public transit in those host cities.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits any federal money given to the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice from being used for civil immigration enforcement on public transit or at transit hubs during June 11 – July 19, 2026, in any metro area that will host a 2026 FIFA World Cup match or fan festival, unless an emergency situation exists.
  • Defines “exigent circumstances” that would allow enforcement despite the ban, including imminent threats of death, violence, terrorism, national‑security risks, hot‑pursuit arrests, or the risk that evidence will be destroyed.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

March 18, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 18, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

March 18, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 18, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7988

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 18, 2026

Mr. Swalwell (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Pou, and Mrs. McIver) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To provide that no Federal funds made available to the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice may be used to carry out any civil immigration enforcement activity on public transit or at public transit hubs from June 11, 2026, through July 19, 2026, in any metropolitan statistical area hosting a 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association World Cup match or Fan Festival, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safe Passage to the World Cup Act.

2.

Limitation on use of funds

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds made available to the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice may be used, except under exigent circumstances, to carry out any civil immigration enforcement activity under the immigration laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)) on public transit or at public transit hubs from June 11, 2026, through July 19, 2026, in any metropolitan statistical area (as such term is defined in section 2001 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601)) hosting a 2026 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup match or FIFA Fan Festival.

(b)

Exigent circumstances defined

In this section, the term exigent circumstances means a situation involving any of the following:

(1)

The imminent risk of death, violence, or physical harm to a person, including in the case of terrorism (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101)).

(2)

The imminent risk to the national security of the United States.

(3)

The immediate arrest or hot pursuit of an individual presenting an imminent risk to public safety, including relating to death, violence, or physical harm to a person.

(4)

The imminent risk of destruction of evidence that is material to an ongoing criminal case.