Federal agents arrested a twice-deported Mexican national after they say he flew a drone inside restricted airspace near the FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta.
His name is Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, 37. Prosecutors say he is an illegal alien with a prior cocaine distribution conviction and two prior removals from the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security put the case front and center on June 19, crediting the FBI and ICE for the arrest.
This is exactly the kind of threat World Cup security teams have been bracing for, and the system worked.
🚨@FBI and @ICEgov ARREST criminal illegal alien who flew a drone in restricted FIFA airspace.
Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, operated a drone in restricted airspace near Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on June 12 during the 2026 FIFA Fan… https://t.co/Aut6gYNJRk pic.twitter.com/bbqcEyVkuD
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 19, 2026
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced the federal charges on June 15, laying out both the drone allegation and the immigration charge.
Prosecutors said agents observed Rojas-Martinez operating a drone in restricted airspace near Centennial Olympic Park on June 12. They said he was standing in a nearby parking area and recording video of the event while the FIFA Fan Festival was underway.
When agents reviewed his identification, prosecutors said they confirmed he was unlawfully present in the country after two prior removals from U.S. soil.
He now faces a federal complaint charging him with operating a drone in a temporary flight restricted zone and illegal reentry by a removed alien.
The official release also adds an important enforcement detail: FBI Atlanta’s Counter UAV Task Force had already seized 21 drones, including Rojas-Martinez’s, from operators accused of violating restricted airspace around FIFA World Cup activities.
That means this was not a one-off warning from federal agencies. It was part of an active counter-drone operation around one of the biggest international sporting events on American soil.
The FBI and ICE are jointly investigating the case, which prosecutors say falls under Operation Take Back America.
The New York Post reported that FBI agents approached Rojas-Martinez near Centennial Olympic Park, asked for his identification, and took him into custody after learning he was in the country illegally.
The Post reported that he was transferred to ICE custody the following day. The outlet also reported that his alleged or documented history includes drug trafficking, stolen property, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, fraud, and DUI-related matters.
Those additional criminal-history details are Post-reported, but the core case comes straight from federal prosecutors: a twice-removed illegal alien allegedly flew a drone inside restricted FIFA airspace during a major public event.
The Post also reported that FIFA has declared World Cup event airspace a No Drone Zone, with the FAA, FBI, and local law enforcement watching match and event airspace.
Unauthorized drone flights can carry steep civil penalties and potential federal criminal charges, and the FBI can use mitigation tools to intercept or seize unlawful drones.
Twice-deported illegal immigrant arrested for flying drone in restricted FIFA airspace https://t.co/uZ33V8f2Y7 pic.twitter.com/6mxeo1BYIU
— New York Post (@nypost) June 19, 2026
All of the new charges are allegations, and Rojas-Martinez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
What is not in dispute is the larger picture. A man removed from this country twice was allegedly standing in a parking lot in downtown Atlanta, flying a drone over a packed World Cup event, until federal agents stopped him.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!