Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, will speak to reporters on February 6, 2024 (Photo: Jennifer Shutt/State Newsroom)
WASHINGTON – A committee of the Senate Hometown and Government Affairs Committee looked into witnesses on Tuesday on how the federal government can ensure public safety at major international sporting events such as the Olympics and the World Cup.
The hearing came shortly after President Donald Trump announced him, along with his protests against the administration’s immigration crackdown in Los Angeles. No travel.
While athletes, coaches and other staff are exempt from travel bans, it is unclear how fans will be transported who want to support their home country.
The citizens of the 12 countries face travel bans in Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Iran is the only country on that list that qualified for this year’s World Cup.
Citizens of the seven countries have partial restrictions such as Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The senators were worried about visa waiting times for international visitors, like panel chief James Lankford, who wanted to take part in the World Cup that begins Thursday in Miami, Florida.
“I’m sure there was a lot of preparation, but I’m worried that we’re off to a late start,” the Oklahoma Republican said.
Senators on the Border Management, Federal Workforce and Regulation Subcommittee also raised concerns about drones, saying local and federal partnerships will help organize sporting events to avoid terrorist threats, such as the New Year’s attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.
One of the witnesses, Gina Ligon, leads the Department of Homeland Security’s Department of Exceptional Studies for Counterterrorism Research at the University of Nebraska. She said New Orleans attackers used artificial intelligence via meta-smart glasses to rule out the location before the attack that killed 14 people and injured dozens.
“The threat we observed in the New Orleans attack remains a very realistic concern that requires significant planning and resources given the spread of the crowd before, during and after these events,” she said.
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, the panel’s top Democrat, said hosting an international sporting event was “an incredible opportunity to show visitors what America’s best.”
Los Angeles and the Olympics
Two GOP senators, Ashley Moody of Florida and Bernie Moreno of Ohio, questioned how LA could handle the Olympics in 2028, as ongoing protests sparked after federal immigration officials. Raided several home depots in Los Angeles Looking for people in the country without legal approval.
In response, Trump deployed 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to LA without the authority of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
One eyewitness, CEO of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic games, said local and state officials in California could handle the Olympics and work with the federal government for security measures.
“We don’t have a world like LA to host the world’s biggest Olympics,” Hoover said. “I’m confident. When the opening ceremony was held at the Coliseum and Inglewood stadiums on July 14th, 2028, America is seeing its best in the world.”
Hoover said hosting the Olympics would be equivalent to holding seven Super Bowls in the straight for 30 days, along with more than 11,000 Olympic and 4,400 Paralympic athletes.
Drones and the Olympics
Democrats of New Hampshire and Fetterman Maggie Hassan raised concerns that drones are getting too close to sporting events.
Hassan said she asked Hoover how she was preparing to deal with drones at the 2028 Olympics while the federal government took steps to address private drones.
“The tools to include counters (unmanned aircraft systems) continue to be an important priority for continuing collaboration with federal, state and local partners,” Hoover added that coordination with the Secret Service will help address unmanned drones.
Ligon said he saw drones in use near a global sporting event.
“Malicious actors can now acquire, build or customize drones more easily at lower costs due to their extended range, high speeds and increased payload capabilities,” she said.
