Dallas Urged to Become 'Human Rights City' Ahead of World Cup

Experts say guaranteeing migrant rights is key to making visitors feel safe and improving the city for residents.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:04pm

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As Dallas prepares to host World Cup matches in 2026, experts are calling on the city to become a 'human rights city' to ensure the safety and dignity of all visitors, including migrants. The authors argue that Dallas should follow the example of other cities like Rosario, Argentina and Nuremberg, Germany that have embraced human rights principles, including by limiting cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities. They say this is an important step to prevent issues like labor abuses, sex trafficking, and forced displacement that have plagued past international sporting events.

Why it matters

The 2026 World Cup in Dallas is expected to draw millions of visitors from around the world. However, concerns about immigration enforcement and human rights abuses have sparked calls for boycotts and protests. Becoming a 'human rights city' could help Dallas reverse this trend, make visitors feel safe, and improve the city for all residents.

The details

The authors argue that Dallas should follow the example of other cities like Rosario, Argentina and Nuremberg, Germany that have embraced human rights principles. This includes directing local police not to assist federal immigration authorities in civil administrative warrants or searches for migrants not facing criminal charges. The authors say this is an important step to prevent issues like labor abuses, sex trafficking, and forced displacement that have plagued past international sporting events.

  • The 2026 World Cup matches in Dallas are scheduled for June 14.
  • Rosario, Argentina became the world's first self-designated human rights city in 1997.
  • Nuremberg, Germany became a human rights city in 2001.

The players

Michael Phillips

An author and historian.

Rick Halperin

Director of the SMU Human Rights Program.

Hadi Jawad

President of Human Rights Dallas.

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What they’re saying

“If the Dallas area wants to reverse this trend, make visitors feel truly safe, and, along the way, make the city a better place to live, an important first step would be becoming a human rights city. Guaranteeing migrant rights, currently under assault, is central to that project.”

— Michael Phillips, Rick Halperin, Hadi Jawad, Authors (The Dallas Morning News)

“Rosario, Argentina, became the world's first self-designated human rights city in 1997. Responding to their nation's tragic history under a violent 1970s military dictatorship, the Rosario City Council sought a better future by requiring human rights training for judges, police, health providers and educators.”

— Michael Phillips, Rick Halperin, Hadi Jawad, Authors (The Dallas Morning News)

“Nuremberg, Germany, a city deeply linked to the rise of Adolf Hitler, also became a human rights city in 2001. A city that once annually hosted Nazi Party rallies now requires human rights education in its schools. Human rights cities now number in the dozens.”

— Michael Phillips, Rick Halperin, Hadi Jawad, Authors (The Dallas Morning News)

What’s next

The Dallas City Council could take steps to make Dallas a 'human rights city' by directing local police not to assist federal immigration authorities in civil administrative warrants or searches for migrants not facing criminal charges.

The takeaway

Becoming a 'human rights city' could help Dallas ensure the safety and dignity of all World Cup visitors, including migrants, and improve the city for all residents in the long run. Other cities have embraced this model to address past human rights abuses and create a better future.