Organizers of this Sunday’s Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, say U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not planning any immigration enforcement operations tied to the event, though federal personnel from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be on-site as part of broader security measures.
According to a memo viewed by The Washington Post, the Bay Area host committee told local leaders that the NFL has been coordinating with DHS on security planning.
“Public safety is our top priority for Super Bowl LX. 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 memo said. The memo was reportedly issued after calls on Friday with NFL security and events teams, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
A DHS spokesperson declined to provide specifics about staffing or deployments, saying details about personnel could not be made public.
Why It Matters
With Latin music star Bad Bunny scheduled to perform at the halftime show—and having previously made anti-ICE comments—there have been concerns that federal immigration agents could target the Super Bowl and arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally. Similar fears have been raised around other major international sporting events, including the Winter Olympics in Italy and the FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The Trump administration has emphasized that DHS’s role is to maintain national security.
What To Know
The host committee reportedly spoke with officials in San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Jose after a Friday call with NFL officials.
Organizers said DHS will have agents present at Sunday’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots as part of standard high-level security—but ICE will not carry out immigration enforcement activities linked to the event.
That messaging differs from earlier reports suggesting federal immigration operations could take place in the Bay Area this weekend. In October, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said ICE would conduct enforcement activities at the Super Bowl, telling Benny Johnson on his podcast that the goal was ensuring attendees were safe.
DHS classifies the Super Bowl as a top-tier security event due to its national and international profile. Federal agencies have frequently deployed personnel in past years to support security efforts in coordination with the NFL and local authorities.
What People Are Saying
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement:
“DHS is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the World Cup,” she said. “Our mission remains unchanged. We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking Monday:
“Security is obviously one of the things we focus on the most, it’s a [Special Event Assessment Rating] SEAR 1 event. That involves unique assets at the federal level, state level, and the local level all working together. I see no change in that in the preparations for the Super Bowl.”
What Happens Next
Super Bowl LX will be played on Sunday, February 8, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
