DHS Confirms ICE Operations Will Take Place at Super Bowl LX Despite Backlash
Written by b87fm on 01/29/2026
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be present at Super Bowl LX, continuing immigration enforcement operations during the NFL’s biggest event despite growing public opposition.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the agency’s plans in a statement to TMZ on January 26, making clear that enforcement activities will move forward as scheduled.
“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,” McLaughlin said. “Our mission remains unchanged.”
She added that the department would not provide further details. “We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel.”
The confirmation comes amid heightened scrutiny of ICE following recent fatal encounters involving immigration agents in Minnesota, which have sparked protests and renewed debate over federal enforcement tactics.
The idea of ICE presence at the Super Bowl first drew national attention in October 2025, when Corey Lewandowski — chief adviser to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem — publicly threatened enforcement action at the event. His remarks followed the NFL, Roc Nation, and Apple Music’s announcement that Bad Bunny would headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in the country illegally — not the Super Bowl, not anywhere else,” Lewandowski said at the time on The Benny Johnson Show. “We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you.”
During the same appearance, Lewandowski criticized the NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny, who became the first Latino male to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.
“It’s so shameful that they’ve decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime show,” Lewandowski said. He also referenced attending a previous Super Bowl alongside President Donald Trump.
ICE activity has intensified in California over the past year, particularly in Los Angeles, where enforcement operations in downtown areas triggered widespread protests. The unrest prompted President Trump to federalize California’s National Guard, despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, both of whom warned the move could further escalate tensions.
Super Bowl LX will take place on Sunday, February 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The championship game will feature a matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, reviving a historic Super Bowl rivalry as immigration enforcement looms over one of the most watched sporting events in the world.
