ICE Plans Presence at Super Bowl, Sparking Fears

Immigration enforcement to join security at major sporting event, raising concerns for undocumented families

Jan. 29, 2026 at 2:55pm

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The Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to have Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents present at the upcoming Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, raising concerns among local leaders and advocates about the potential impact on undocumented families attending the event.

Why it matters

The decision to have ICE agents at the Super Bowl is seen as a shift in the agency's typical role of targeting human trafficking and counterfeit merchandise, and raises fears that it could lead to increased immigration enforcement and detentions at the high-profile sporting event.

The details

ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit has worked past Super Bowls to address issues like human trafficking and fake merchandise, but using the event for broader immigration enforcement would be new. While the Department of Homeland Security has not provided specifics on the planned operations, officials have said any response would be 'conducted in line with the US Constitution' and that people in the country legally 'have nothing to fear'.

  • Super Bowl LX is scheduled to take place on February 9, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.

The players

Matt Mahan

The mayor of San Jose, California, who has expressed concerns about the ICE presence at the Super Bowl.

Peter Ortiz

A San Jose city councilmember who has advised undocumented families not to attend the Super Bowl due to the risks.

Kristi Noem

The current Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who has warned that ICE will be 'all over' the Super Bowl event.

Corey Lewandowski

An advisor to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who previewed the strategy of having no 'safe haven' for people in the country illegally, 'not the Super Bowl, and nowhere else'.

Bad Bunny

A Puerto Rican music star who is scheduled to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, and who has skipped US tour dates over concerns about ICE raids.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Peter Ortiz, San Jose City Councilmember (San Jose Spotlight)

“If you do have a mixed immigration status, I personally would not go to the Super Bowl. It's too much of a risk.”

— Peter Ortiz, San Jose City Councilmember (NBC Bay Area)

“We'll be all over that place.”

— Kristi Noem (The Guardian)

“We have heard from the [Trump] administration that they intend to have ICE at the Super Bowl. I don't know how much of that is rhetoric.”

— Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose (KTVU)

What’s next

The Department of Homeland Security has not provided specifics on the planned ICE operations at the Super Bowl, and it remains to be seen how local leaders and advocates will respond to the increased immigration enforcement presence at the event.

The takeaway

The decision to have ICE agents at the Super Bowl has raised significant concerns among local leaders and immigrant advocates, who fear it could deter undocumented families from attending the event and lead to increased detentions and deportations. This move represents a shift in ICE's typical role at the Super Bowl and highlights the ongoing tensions around immigration enforcement in the United States.