Homeland Security Defends Super Bowl Presence After Minneapolis ICE Shootings Spark Controversy

ICE is set to carry out its enforcement duties at Super Bowl LX which is scheduled to take place at the 49ers Levi's Stadium in California on February 8.

Homeland Security Defends Super Bowl Presence After Minneapolis ICE Shootings Spark Controversy

Levi's Stadium, venue fof Super Bowl LX (Image via IMAGO)

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Football fans heading to Super Bowl LX, whether they’ve already booked or are planning to, should bring a few essentials: their tickets, cash or a card, and their Social Security number. Why? It’s better to be safe than face the wrath of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

As promised by Kristi Noem, Secretary of DHS (Department of Homeland Security), ICE officers are set to flock to Levi’s Stadium to carry out immigration enforcement on February 8. Citizens are advised to remain calm. Those with proper identification can relax and enjoy the game between the Patriots and the Seahawks without any worries.

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. Our mission remains unchanged.

Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told TMZ

ICE remains committed to carrying out its enforcement drive at Super Bowl LX

The incident in Minneapolis hasn’t deterred the border patrol from doing its job. An ICU nurse for the U.S. Veterans Affairs, Alex Pretti, died after ICE officers shot Pretti during one of their drives.

McLaughlin highlighted for the second time that, “Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”

Homeland Security Defends Super Bowl Presence After Minneapolis ICE Shootings Spark Controversy
The Lombardi Trophy is presented to the winning team in the Super Bowl (Image via IMAGO)

While appearing on The Benny Show in October 2025, Noem declared that ICE is set to surround Santa Clara on the day of the Super Bowl.

I have the responsibility for making sure everybody goes to the Super Bowl, has the opportunity to enjoy it, and to leave, and that’s what America’s about. So yeah, we’ll be all over that place. We’re going to enforce the law.

Kristi Noem said in the clip

Noem’s response came after the NFL announced Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny as the main performer during the halftime show. The news sent the internet into a frenzy. Even President Donald Trump wasn’t thrilled by the selection.

Bunny is a popular figure among the nation’s Latino and LGBTQIA+ community. The Grammy winner embraced the rare opportunity to spread his music across the globe. He had plenty of opportunities to become a household name in mainland USA, but he purposely refused to perform as a protest against the brutality of ICE officers.

People from the U.S. could come here [in Puerto Rico] to see the show. Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world. But there was the issue of—like, [expletive] ICE could be outside.

Bad Bunny revealed in an interview with the I-D Magazine

The 31-year-old singer and composer got support from the NFL commissioner following the backlash. Roger Goodell made it clear that the committee made the right choice by selecting Bad Bunny to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.

It’s carefully thought through. I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.

Goodell declared

Meanwhile, Trump has taken a firm stance and decided to forgo the trip to California. According to him, the distance from his home to the 49ers’ backyard isn’t a journey he’s willing to make for a two-hour game.

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