Super Bowl Host Committee Confirms No Planned ICE Immigration Enforcement Operations
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not following through on previous threats to conduct migrant roundup operations during Sunday's Super Bowl, according to a report from The Washington Post published on Monday. The newspaper obtained a document from the host committee that was sent to elected officials in San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Jose after the committee consulted with NFL security and law enforcement officials on Friday.
Official Communication Clarifies Federal Presence
The committee's letter explicitly stated: "We have been in daily contact with the NFL, which has confirmed the following with the Department of Homeland Security: There are no planned ICE immigration enforcement operations associated with SBLX." The communication further explained that in coordination with NFL security and local law enforcement, DHS will have federal agents at the Super Bowl to maintain fan safety.
The document emphasized that this federal security presence at Super Bowl LX is consistent with past Super Bowl events and comparable to how DHS protects other major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup. This clarification comes despite previous statements from Homeland Security officials suggesting potential enforcement actions during the championship game.
Previous Threats from Homeland Security Officials
In October, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made veiled threats regarding ICE presence at the big game in Santa Clara, California. Speaking to right-wing journalist Benny Johnson, she declared: "We'll be all over that place. We're gonna enforce the law. So I think people should not be coming to the Super Bowl unless they're law-abiding Americans who love this country."
Before Noem's comments, DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski made more direct threats when asked specifically about potential ICE enforcement during the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show. He responded: "There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility and we will deport you."
DHS Statement and Context
In a statement provided to HuffPost, the Department of Homeland Security declined to provide specific details about its Super Bowl operation but added: "Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear." This statement comes amid heightened scrutiny of DHS agents following recent incidents, including the killing of two protesters in Minneapolis last month.
The Super Bowl halftime show has become a particular point of contention, with Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny scheduled to perform. The rapper, who has been critical of former President Donald Trump's immigration policies, set off a wave of right-wing objections when his halftime performance was announced last year. During Sunday's Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny fired another salvo at Trump and his administration, declaring: "Before I say thanks to God, I'm going to say: ICE out. We are not savage. We are not animals. We are not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans."
Broader Implications and Protests
The controversy extends beyond the Super Bowl, with protests even reaching the Winter Olympics in Italy. People in Milan demonstrated against ICE's presence, despite the agency not being deployed in the streets during those games. This international attention highlights the ongoing debate surrounding immigration enforcement policies and their implementation at major public events.
The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots have since advanced to compete in Super Bowl LX, with the game scheduled to take place amid these ongoing discussions about immigration enforcement and federal presence at major sporting events.
