Hotel and stadium workers can refuse work if ICE is present, union says as World Cup approaches

A union representing thousands of hospitality workers told hotels, stadiums and other employers that employees have the right to refuse work if ICE and Border Protection personnel are present on their property.

UNITE HERE Local 11, the union that represents 32,000 workers in Southern California and Arizona, said that the presence of federal immigration agents creates "unusually dangerous conditions" and under existing collective bargaining agreements, employees have the right to refuse to work.

This comes as the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches. Inglewood's SoFi Stadium is set to host eight games this summer.

In a letter to employers, the union said that "ICE and Border Patrol have wreaked havoc on communities across the country."

They pointed to incidents and fatal shootings across the country involving immigration agents that they say have contributed to public tension, including the fatal shooting in Northridge of a father of two at the hands of an off-duty ICE agent.

Union leaders said workers should not be placed in situations they view as volatile or outside the normal scope of their jobs.

The letter also referenced an October 14, 2025 local emergency declaration by Los Angeles County, which found that federal immigration enforcement activities posed "extreme peril" to residents.

"Our members should not be forced into the middle of heavily armed enforcement operations," UNITE HERE Co President Kurt Petersen said. "Our contracts guarantee a safe workplace, and if hotels and stadiums choose to allow ICE onto their properties, our workers have the right to walk out."

The union is urging hotels, stadiums and other venues not to host or provide staging areas for ICE or Border Patrol during what it calls a period of heightened public attention. If employers choose to allow federal agents on site, the union is requesting advance notice and confirmation that workers will be permitted to leave or refuse the assignment without facing disciplinary action.

With Los Angeles preparing to host the World Cup in June, UNITE HERE Local 11 said the federal government's plans to increase enforcement activity around the event make worker safety concerns more urgent.

"We stood together to protect guests and workers during COVID," union leaders wrote. "We must do so again to ensure the safety of our workplaces and communities."

UNITE HERE Local 11 represents workers across hotels, restaurants, airports, sports arenas and convention centers in Southern California and Arizona.