What Happened
A motion by the Vancouver council to oppose the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during the FIFA World Cup did not proceed to a vote. The motion was deemed out of order by meeting chair, Coun. Mike Klassen, who stated that recent correspondence indicated ICE would not be present for the games in Vancouver.
Why It Matters
The motion aimed to address concerns regarding the presence of allegedly undertrained foreign ICE agents, arguing that their deployment would contradict city policies on equity, safety, and access for migrants. Coun. Pete Fry emphasized that the motion was pre-emptive, referencing the last-minute announcement of ICE’s involvement in previous events. Councillor Brian Montague reiterated that U.S. agencies lack jurisdiction in Canada.
What’s Next
Despite an attempt to overturn the ruling and bring the motion to a vote, it fell short by one vote of the required two-thirds majority. Mayor Ken Sim supported the chair’s decision, reinforcing that the motion was out of order. As the FIFA World Cup approaches, the focus will remain on ensuring a welcoming environment for all attendees.
