US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are expected to conduct immigration enforcement operations during the Super Bowl on 8 February in Santa Clara, California, local officials have confirmed. The game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium will see a heightened federal presence, with ICE's Homeland Security Investigations team typically focusing on human trafficking and counterfeit goods, but immigration operations are unusual for the event.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan told KTVU: 'We have heard from the administration that they intend to have ICE at the Super Bowl. I don’t know how much of that is rhetoric.' The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declined to confirm specific operations, stating it does 'not disclose future operations or discuss personnel'. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said security would be 'conducted in-line with the US constitution', adding: 'Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.'
The move has sparked concern in the community. San Jose City Council member Peter Ortiz told the San José Spotlight: 'It’s going to increase the level of tension and fear in our area. We’re already seeing that they are scared to go out to eat, scared to go to the local corner store, scared to send their kids to school.'
Corey Lewandowski, an adviser to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, announced last autumn that agents would conduct operations during the Super Bowl, stating: 'There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally, not the Super Bowl, and nowhere else.' Noem confirmed ICE operations in an interview, saying: 'We’ll be all over that place. We’re gonna enforce the law.'
DHS has collaborated with the NFL for two decades, sending nearly 700 employees to New Orleans last year for security and intellectual property enforcement. However, Trump administration officials have criticised the NFL as 'woke' and the choice of Bad Bunny for the half-time show. Donald Trump described the entertainment as a 'terrible choice' and said he will not attend the game.
