DHS Refuses to Confirm ICE Presence at the Super Bowl

ICE agent stock photo (left); Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (right).
Credit:

Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty; Kirby Lee/Getty

### Key Details
– The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not confirmed whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be present at Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8.
– Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”
– This statement comes amid rising concerns following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were fatally shot by federal agents in Minnesota in January.

The DHS remains tight-lipped regarding potential federal immigration enforcement at Super Bowl LX. Following a report about possible ICE presence, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the agency’s commitment to collaborating with local and federal partners to ensure safety during the event, similar to security approaches for major sporting events like the World Cup.

“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,” McLaughlin asserted in a statement.

Her remarks come during a period of heightened scrutiny regarding federal tactics in law enforcement, particularly following the shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Good and Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota. Good was shot in her car on January 7, during an operation where ICE agents were responding to a situation where officials were allegedly blocked while performing enforcement actions. McLaughlin described the shooting as a result of the officer fearing for his life and public safety.

Pretti was shot on January 24 by a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a targeted operation related to an illegal alien wanted for assault. According to McLaughlin, Pretti had approached the officers with a firearm and “violently resisted” attempts to disarm him. However, witness video evidence has cast doubt on the official narrative, showing him purportedly holding a phone rather than a weapon when the incident unfolded.

Organizations like the Service, Immigration, Rights and Education Network (SIREN) expressed concern that the uncertainty surrounding federal enforcement keeps communities on edge. Executive Director Huy Tran remarked, “There are so many agents flying all over the country; we don’t know when something can happen. We have the president changing his mind any time he feels like it. Things happen on a whim. That’s why we have to be ready so we don’t have to get ready.”

Looking ahead, ICE agents are slated to support diplomatic security details during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala has publicly rejected the presence of ICE agents, calling them a “militia that kills” and asserting their unwelcome status at the upcoming games.

As tensions regarding federal enforcement policies continue to rise, Corey Lewandowski, a close advisor to former President Donald Trump, indicated that ICE will indeed be present at the Super Bowl, highlighting a tougher stance on illegal immigration under the current administration.

“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally,” Lewandowski stated in a podcast. “We will find you, apprehend you, and put you in a detention facility and deport you.”