Keeping New Yorkers Safe: Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Strengthen Public Safety and Make Our Streets and Subways Safer

Advances First-In-The-Nation Law To Crack Down on Illegal Homegrown 3D-Printed Guns

Protects New Yorkers’ Constitutional Rights and Religious Freedom

Continues Record Investments in Subway Safety by Funding Additional Patrols in the System, Expanding SCOUT Teams

Invests in Crime Fighting Measures, Enhances Law Enforcement and First Responder Support Programs

Safeguards New York’s Roads by Stopping New York City’s Super Speeders Through Intelligent Speed Assistance and Ensuring Safety in New York’s Work Zones

Improves New York’s Emergency and Disaster Response

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation as part of the FY27 Enacted Budget to strengthen public safety across New York. Highlights of Governor Hochul’s public safety budget priorities include cracking down on the scourge of illegal 3D-printed ghost guns and DIY machine guns, investing in new crime-fighting technology, supporting law enforcement officers and first responders, safeguarding New York’s roads and subways, enhancing its emergency preparedness response systems, and protecting New Yorkers’ religious freedom and safety.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority which is why I’m proud to deliver record investments in law enforcement to crack down on crime, strengthen critical protections for New Yorkers and keep communities across our state safe from harm,” Governor Hochul said. “Since taking office, we’ve made significant progress driving down crime, and with this budget, we continue to bolster those efforts to prevent violence and keep New York’s families safe.”

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has invested more than $3 billion in public safety initiatives. The funding has provided record support for local and state law enforcement that has contributed to gun violence reaching record lows, reduced subway crime and combatted pandemic-era surges in motor vehicle and retail thefts. This budget adds more than $900 million to those record investments. These efforts, along with common-sense changes to the state’s bail, discovery and gun laws that Governor Hochul obtained in previous state budgets, have helped make New York one of the safest large states in the country.

Stopping Illegal Homegrown Guns

Governor Hochul has passed the strongest gun laws in the nation and made record investments in gun violence prevention, resulting in New York having the fewest shooting incidents statewide in 2025 in recorded history. To build on this progress, Governor Hochul’s FY27 Enacted Budget will:

• Require first-in-the-nation minimum safety standards for 3D printers sold in New York to be equipped with basic technology that prevents the unlicensed, illegal production of lethal firearms and firearm parts.
• Require the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to lead a task force of experts to recommend regulations that will ensure New Yorkers are protected from these dangerous weapons. Following the implementation of the resulting regulations, state law will allow for recourse against any actor who sells a 3D printer in New York without equipping it with such technology.
• Criminalize the unlawful possession, sale, or distribution of blueprints that allow the printing of illegal guns and gun parts, and the manufacture of 3D-printed firearms.
• Require all pistols sold in the state to private citizens be designed in such a way that ensures they cannot quickly and easily be turned into machine guns using common tools.

Prioritizing Safety on the Subway

Subway crime reached its lowest level in 16 years in 2025, with a 14 percent reduction in major crimes in the transit system compared to 2019. Lower crime and higher ridership are the result of the hard work of dedicated police officers supported by Governor Hochul’s proactive investments in policing and mental health engagement strategies that promote order and public safety throughout the system. To ensure continued progress on subway safety, Governor Hochul:

• Secured an additional $77 million to support the deployment of NYPD officers across the subway system to target areas of greatest need and to enhance rider safety.
• Is expanding the Subway Co-Response Outreach Teams initiative, known as SCOUT, by 50 percent from 10 to 15, to reach more locations and operate with greater flexibility across the system. This will allow teams to respond more quickly to individuals in acute distress and focus resources where needs are greatest.

Protecting Safe Access to Worship

Governor Hochul signed protections into law to protect individuals' access to places of worship. The Governor’s bill creates a new crime for knowingly and intentionally interfering with a person seeking to enter or exit a place of religious worship or acting in a way within 50 feet of a place of worship that makes a person seeking to access a place of religious worship fear for their safety. The law balances the freedom of speech with the freedom to worship without harassment. Under this law, when there is a demonstration, police may set up a security perimeter beyond 50 feet, within which demonstrations are not permitted.

Combating Crime and Ensuring Justice

Governor Hochul’s FY27 Enacted Budget continues investments to support effective policing, combat crime, and ensure justice for victims and survivors. This year’s budget will help New York achieve these goals by:

• Establishing a new Crime Analysis Center in Westchester County to complete statewide coverage of New York’s Crime Analysis Center Network. This center will provide local and regional law enforcement with real-time crime analysis, investigative support, and stronger information sharing with counties and State partners.
• Investing in crime labs across the state, supporting upgrades to DNA and drug analysis technology, expanding forensic staffing, and strengthening statewide standards through accreditation and proficiency testing to ensure cases move forward efficiently and survivors are not left waiting years for resolution.
• Strengthening police training by developing an accreditation program to ensure all agencies have equal access to standardized information around best practices that help provide high-quality instruction, particularly for smaller and underserved departments.
• Passing nation-leading paid critical incident leave legislation for State Police members directly involved in justified qualifying uses of force to ensure Troopers have the time and support needed to recover, fully cooperate with investigations, and safely return to duty. Eligible Troopers will receive 20 days of critical incident leave if the incident involved death and 10 days for all other critical incidents.
• Closing a loophole that allowed orders of protection — which can include stay-away provisions, no-contact requirements, and firearm surrender obligations — to lose their enforceability when defendants fail to appear in court. Now, courts will be required to automatically extend an order of protection when a defendant does not return to court, allowing the State to better protect victims and prevent dangerous gaps in enforcement.
• Developing a new technical assistance initiative to support fiscally at-risk and survivor-led victim assistance programs. Participating organizations will be able to request targeted assistance, including financial management support, compliance guidance, and organizational planning, to stabilize programs, improve long-term sustainability, and increase access to victim services statewide.
• Promoting awareness of victim compensation and related services, so survivors know help is available when they need it most, regardless of having reported the crime to law enforcement. Together, these improvements will help victims access financial support more quickly, reduce stress during recovery, and strengthen trust in the services designed to support them.

Safeguarding New York’s Roads

To reduce risks and make New York’s roadways safer, Governor Hochul’s FY27 Enacted budget includes:

• Authorization for New York City to establish a pilot program requiring the installation of Intelligent Speed Assistance devices in the vehicles of so-called “super speeders” – drivers with a documented pattern of flouting speeding laws and putting New Yorkers at risk. The pilot will directly target this dangerous driving behavior by preventing these drivers from driving over the posted speed limit, helping to avert tragedies before they happen and making city streets safer for everyone. Based on the results from this pilot initiative, New York will explore allowing other interested communities around the state to opt into an Intelligent Speed Assistance program.
• Legislation to expand the use of automated work zone speed enforcement systems to additional State roadways, increasing eligible State DOT roadway miles by more than 40%.
• Authorization to establish Traffic Camera Violation Bureaus in jurisdictions with stop-arm camera programs that will help ensure the timely processing of tickets for motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses and ensure drivers who endanger children by passing school buses with the stop-arm out are held accountable.

Improving Emergency and Disaster Response

Governor Hochul continues to expand New York’s capabilities to prepare and respond to emergencies and threats, and provide higher standards of care for the first responders who step up when New York needs them most. The FY27 Enacted Budget includes new measures that will:

• Strengthen the State’s readiness for mass violence events by directing a statewide training initiative to equip community-based Victim Assistance Programs with the skills needed to respond effectively to large-scale incidents. Governor Hochul has also directed the Mass Violence Advisory Council to establish shared response protocols that clarify roles and streamline support.
• Establish a new Urban Search and Rescue capability through a partnership between the Office of Fire Prevention and Control at the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and local first responders. The team will meet the federal Type 1 Urban Search and Rescue standard, allowing it to deploy quickly and sustain large-scale rescue operations during major disasters, and expand access to advanced rescue capabilities that are currently concentrated in New York City.
• Advance a comprehensive approach to both prohibit risky drone use and expand responsible use of drones as first responders by creating a crime for dangerous drone use and flying in and around restricted areas, and authorizing the use of detection and mitigation efforts by qualified law enforcement officers. This approach will also further limit where drones may fly, expand law enforcement authority to respond to credible drone threats and support safe testing of counter-drone technologies.
• Establishing a First Responder Behavioral Health Center of Excellence to serve as a statewide training and technical assistance hub to break down barriers to care and ensure that people who protect our communities have the mental health and addiction resources they need to stay safe and healthy on the job.

Governor Hochul’s Public Safety Record

During her time in office, Governor Hochul has made public safety her top priority, championing a number of key initiatives including:

• Signing landmark gun safety laws: strengthening New York’s Red Flag law, increasing the protections of the background check system, tightening restrictions on concealed carry weapons, codifying the Office of Gun Violence Prevention in state law, and cracking down on illegal firearms.
• Achieving a 60 percent decline in shooting incidents with injury in communities participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, with shooting incidents reaching the lowest level on record and resulting in the removal of more than 10,000 illegal guns from New York streets.
• Delivering historic subway safety investments, driving down transit crime below pre-pandemic levels and to the second-lowest level in recorded history.
• Strengthening New York’s bail and discovery laws to keep dangerous criminals off our streets while better protecting victims.
• Taking decisive action against retail theft, expanding worker protections, adding new criminal charges that target organized retail theft rings, and providing security funding for small businesses; as of December 2025, retail theft is down 14 percent year-over-year in New York City.
• Responding to the rise in hate crimes by expanding hate crime-eligible offenses and securing funding to protect at-risk sites.

Together, these efforts reflect Governor Hochul’s vision of a safer, stronger and more secure state for all New Yorkers.

ICE Lodges Arrest Detainer Asking Oklahoma Officials to Not Release Illegal Alien Who Killed Four in Drunk-Driving Crash

 

The suspect now faces FOUR counts of second-degree murder and other charges

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer asking officials in Oklahoma to not release an illegal alien who killed four people in a drunk-driving car crash.

On May 22, 2026, at half past midnight, Michael Salomon Rosario-Cruz, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was driving the wrong way on the I-40 in Canadian County when he collided head-on with another vehicle.

The aftermath of the crash

According to local reports, the crash killed four people in the other vehicle. The victims, all of whom were between the ages of 18 and 20, were:

Kiercy Hickson, 20

Haliegh Salazar, 18

Quincy Jones, 19

Brad Palmer, 18

Rosario-Cruz was taken to the hospital in critical condition. On May 24, he was released from the hospital and booked into the Canadian County Jail.

The suspect: Michael Salomon Rosario-Cruz

He now faces charges that include FOUR counts of second-degree murder, TWO counts of DUI causing great bodily injury, transporting an open container, possession of a firearm with an altered identification during the commission of a felony, carrying firearms while under the influence, and wrong way on a one-way road.

“Four young Americans had their lives taken in Oklahoma by a criminal illegal alien who recklessly drove drunk. The illegal alien struck the victims’ vehicle head-on, causing the car to catch fire. He now faces criminal charges for murder, driving under the influence, and unlawful possession of a firearm,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “These young men and women had their whole lives ahead of them. This tragedy was completely preventable. This illegal alien should have never been in our country. Join me in praying for the families, friends, and loved ones of these victims.”

Rosario-Cruz entered the country illegally at an unknown date and time.

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Man Indicted and Arrested for Drug Trafficking

 

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Caribbean Division, in coordination with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), announced the indictment of Bárbaro José Del Valle-De Paula, 64, following a narcotics and firearms investigation targeting drug trafficking activity in Puerto Rico.

On May 21, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Del Valle-De Paula with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and firearms offenses.

According to court documents, between April 29, 2026, and May 13, 2026, Del Valle-De Paula allegedly conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base (commonly known as crack), heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone (commonly known as Percocet) at the Las Gardenias Public Housing Project and within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds.

Del Valle-De Paula was arrested on May 13, 2026, and was allegedly found in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

“This case reflects the dangerous reality we continue to confront in Puerto Rico, individuals who choose to poison communities through drug trafficking while arming themselves with illegal weapons,” said Michael Mayer, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Caribbean Division. “The presence of fentanyl, crack, heroin, and illegal firearms operating near places where children live, learn, and play represents a direct threat to public safety. DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying these individuals, dismantling their networks, and protecting our communities. This investigation demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal and local agencies operate as one team with a shared mission.”

The defendant made his initial appearance on May 14, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico.

If convicted, Del Valle-De Paula faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

DEA Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Mayer acknowledged the support and close coordination with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico in advancing this investigation and prosecution.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney José A. Contreras is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains allegations only, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Mayor Mamdani and NYC Public Schools Announce Continued Investment in Birth-to-2 Programming Through 2026–27 School Year

 

Continued funding will support more than 120 infant and toddler seats across 10 participating community-based early childhood programs during the 2026–27 school year       

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Chancellor Kamar Samuels today announced that New York City will continue funding the Birth-to-2 (B-2) Initiative through the 2026–27 school year, building on the program’s launch earlier this year and the Mamdani administration’s broader commitment to strengthening early childhood care and education services for families across the five boroughs.

Launched in January 2026, the City-funded initiative expanded access to free, high-quality infant and toddler care in communities with limited affordable care options. This fall, the program will serve more than 120 children across 10 community-based programs.

"Reliable and affordable child care changes lives. It means more money in parents’ pockets, more freedom to pursue the work they love and fewer families being pushed out of New York City because they can no longer afford to stay,” said Mayor Mamdani. “By continuing to fund these seats, we are investing in our very youngest New Yorkers and taking another step toward universal child care for every family in New York City.”

“The earliest years of a child’s life are critical to a child’s development and future success,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “Through this programming, we are helping more families access high-quality early care and education services while strengthening a more connected early childhood system for children and families across New York City. This continued investment reflects our shared commitment to supporting children from the very start.”

Initially supported through a $10 million City investment in partnership with the City Council, the program strengthens New York City’s broader Birth-to-Five early childhood continuum. Through partnerships with trusted community-based providers, the initiative supports working families while expanding access to safe, nurturing and developmentally rich early learning environments for infants and toddlers. Participating programs will continue receiving operational support and resources through existing New York City Public School funding.

Like the City’s 2-K, 3-K and Pre-K programs, the B-2 Initiative is open to all New York City families. Families interested in enrolling can learn more about participating programs and connect directly with providers regarding available seats and enrollment requirements.

The program’s continued funding builds on the Mamdani administration’s historic effort to deliver universal child care across New York City, including the roll out of the very first 2-K seats this fall, which will provide full-day, full-year quality child care to 2,000 two-year-olds, and the recent expansion of 3-K seats in communities with the greatest need. This work is supported by a $1.2 billion investment from Governor Kathy Hochul announced on day eight of this administration. 

Mayor Mamdani Announces Start of Construction to Complete McGuinness Boulevard Redesign to Improve Safety for All

Project will deliver parking-protected bike lanes along the full length of McGuinness Boulevard, from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge    

  

Comprehensive redesign will improve safety for everyone by shortening crossing distances, reducing reckless driving and slowing turning drivers     

Mayor Mamdani joins NYC DOT Commissioner Flynn, advocates and elected officials days after his inauguration in January to commit to completing the original redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. Credit: NYC DOT  

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the start of construction to complete the redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. The project will deliver parking-protected bike lanes along the entire corridor, from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge, while making the street safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.  

  

Mayor Mamdani joined community leaders and safe street advocates on Jan. 3, just days after his inauguration, to announce that the City would move forward with the long-delayed redesign. Today, Commissioner Flynn returned to the community near the foot of the Pulaski Bridge to break ground on the project. NYC DOT expects to complete construction by early fall.  

  

“Days into our administration, we made clear that this new era for New York City would be anchored in the well-being of working people, not the whims of the wealthy and well-connected,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Now that spring is here and the ground has thawed, NYC DOT can get to work delivering safe streets for all New Yorkers. As construction begins, Greenpoint is finally getting the safer McGuinness Boulevard its residents have long fought for.”  

  

“Every New Yorker should feel safe on New York City streets, and after tireless advocacy from the Greenpoint community, we will finally be delivering a McGuinness Boulevard that helps stitch the neighborhood together, rather than dividing it in half with long, high-traffic crossings,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “This was the administration’s first street safety announcement because we wanted to signal that are ushing in a new era of local government that works for its people — instead of making backroom deals to prevent the installation life-saving street safety upgrades.”  

The redesigned section of the southern portion of McGuinness Boulevard featuring one parking lane, one travel lane and a curbside bike lane in each direction. As part of NYC DOT’s upcoming work, it will extend this design to the northern section of the corridor. Credit: NYC DOT  

McGuinness Boulevard is a critical cycling connection between Brooklyn and Queens and serves more than 4,000 daily riders during the summer months. NYC DOT will install parking-protected bike lanes along the entirety of the corridor to improve safety and reduce deadly speeding.   

  

The redesign will extend the existing parking-protected bike lanes between Meeker Avenue and Calyer Street northbound to the Pulaski Bridge. Once complete, McGuinness Boulevard will feature one travel lane in each direction, one parking-protected bike lane in each direction and one curbside parking and loading lane in each direction.   

  

The redesign will also improve safety benefits for pedestrians and drivers by shortening crossing distances, slowing turning vehicles and reducing reckless driving behavior. Similar street redesigns across the New York City have reduced traffic deaths and serious injuries by 30%.  

  

HSTF Investigation: Six Charged with Drug Trafficking in Oregon

 

Methamphetamine and cocaine seized during the investigation.

Six defendants were charged for their roles in a drug trafficking organization. The six defendants below were charged by a second superseding information on April 29, 2026, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine:

• Rafael Mora Contreras, 44, of Forest Grove, Oregon;
• Cristina Echeverria, 42, of Forest Grove, Oregon;
• Nathalie Claire Buchanan, 28, of Bend, Oregon;
• Charles Ottis Johnson, 37, of Bend;
• Mariano Perez-Sanchez, 42, of Forest Grove, Oregon; and
• Dagoberto Ayala-Lopez, 38, of Hillsboro, Oregon.

According to court documents, in July 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Portland District Office, Oregon State Police (OSP) and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine supplier in Forest Grove operated and run by Perez-Sanchez. Perez-Sanchez worked as a drug dispatcher and took orders from retail level distributors. 

Johnson and Buchanan were drug trafficking partners who routinely purchased large amounts of methamphetamine in the Portland and Salem area to sell in the Bend area. On February 11, 2026, Echeverria, a courier for Perez-Sanchez, delivered a large quantity of methamphetamine to Buchanan at a hotel. Buchanan and Johnson were pulled over by police. Officers located over 4 pounds of methamphetamine in the car. Investigators reviewed text messages during the drug deal with Johnson and Buchanan showing further evidence of drug trafficking. 

On February 17, 2026, Echeverria and Mora Contreras, driving separate cars, were both pulled over by OSP troopers after an overnight trip to California to re-supply drugs. OSP troopers located 28 pounds of methamphetamine and 6 kilograms of cocaine in Echeverria’s car. 

Ayala-Lopez worked as a drug courier for Perez-Sanchez. Ayala-Lopez’s vehicles and residence were searched pursuant to search warrant and investigators located over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine. 

DEA is investigating the case with assistance from OSP and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis Burkhart is prosecuting the case.

This arrest is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. 

Romanian National Sentenced for Selling Access to Networks of Oregon State Government Office and Other U.S. Victims

 

A Romanian national was sentenced yesterday to 56 months in prison in connection with an online intrusion into an Oregon state government office in 2021 and other cyber-attacks on U.S. victims.

According to court documents, Catalin Dragomir, 46, formerly of Constanta, Romania, sold access to a computer on the network of an Oregon state government office after obtaining unauthorized access to it in June of 2021. During the sale, Dragomir provided the prospective buyer with samples of personal identifying information from the computer. He also sold access to the computer networks of numerous other victims in the United States, causing losses of at least $250,000. 

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.

In November 2024, Dragomir was arrested in Romania. He was extradited to the United States in January 2025.

On Feb. 19, Dragomir pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining information from a protected computer and one count of aggravated identity theft. 

The FBI Portland Field Office investigated the case. 

Trial Attorneys Benjamin A. Bleiberg and Alison M. Zitron of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine A. Rykken for the District of Oregon prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Romanian Ministry of Justice, Directorate for International Law and Judicial Cooperation, and the Romanian Judiciary to secure the arrest and extradition of Dragomir. The Department of Justice also thanks Darkweb IQ for its assistance with the investigation.

CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.

Attorney General James and Attorney General Davenport Subpoena FIFA Over World Cup Ticketing

AGs Launched Investigation Following Reports That Fans Did Not Receive Seats as Advertised and Faced Soaring Ticket Prices

New York Attorney General Letitia James and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport today subpoenaed FIFA as part of an investigation into FIFA’s ticketing practices for the upcoming World Cup tournament. Recent press reports indicate that fans may have been misled about the locations of the seats they were purchasing, and FIFA’s public statements and ticket releases may have contributed to soaring prices. With investigatory support from the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), the attorneys general today sent subpoenas to FIFA seeking information about its ticketing practices. The attorneys general are specifically requesting details about ticketing practices at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which will host eight World Cup matches, including the World Cup Final on July 19, 2026.  

“New Yorkers have been waiting years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets,” said Attorney General James. “No one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats, and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive. I thank Attorney General Davenport for joining this effort to get answers from FIFA and protect our states’ consumers.”  

“Being honest about ticket sales is not complicated. But FIFA has turned buying a ticket to the World Cup into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices – all at the expense of consumers and hardworking New Jerseyans,” said Attorney General Davenport. “We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation of FIFA’s conduct, and we are proud to stand together with Attorney General James in protecting our consumers. It’s an honor to host the World Cup, but the event is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors.” 

"As excitement builds for the 2026 World Cup, New Yorkers and visitors from around the world deserve transparency and fairness when purchasing tickets," said DCWP Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine. "Reports of FIFA conduct in violation of the City’s Consumer Protection Law, including misleading fans about seat locations and artificially inflating prices, are deeply troubling. DCWP takes allegations of blatantly deceptive conduct very seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action. We are proud to work with Attorneys General James and Davenport in this investigation to help ensure FIFA’s ticketing practices at MetLife Stadium and beyond are transparent, and that soccer fans are not taken advantage of during one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.”

The investigation will probe a range of issues that have arisen with FIFA’s ticketing process. Fans have reported they were misled about where the tickets they were purchasing would be located. For its initial ticket sales, FIFA’s seat maps divided stadiums into four zones named Category 1 through Category 4, with Category 1 seats in the most desirable location. Yet after many fans had already bought tickets, FIFA created new zones, Front Categories 1 through 4, made up of the most desirable seats within each Category. Tickets in these Front Categories cost significantly more. Reports indicate that fans who bought tickets before these new zones were introduced were excluded from those seats and instead assigned less desirable seats, including seats far from the field or behind the goals.

In addition, some fans have reported that they did not receive the tickets in the Category they paid for. These fans have reported that although they selected and paid for Category 1 tickets, which were the closest areas to the field, they were assigned seats further back in Category 2 areas. 

The attorneys general will also investigate FIFA’s ticket prices for 2026 World Cup matches, which have far exceeded the prices for any previous World Cup tournament. FIFA has used “variable pricing” to adjust ticket prices based on demand. As FIFA released tickets in phases over the course of several months, prices for some matches skyrocketed. Press reports indicate that between October 2025 and April 2026, FIFA raised the price of tickets for more than 90 of the 104 World Cup matches, with prices for the three main ticket categories rising on average by 34%. The investigation will examine whether and how FIFA’s ticket release schedule, public statements, and other conduct may have impacted these prices.

New Yorkers who have not received the World Cup tickets they paid for are encouraged to report it to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) by submitting a complaint online or calling 1 (800) 771-7755.