As the countdown to Super Bowl Sunday ticks closer, one of the biggest storylines off the field is about who won’t be showing up at Levi’s Stadium-and we’re not talking about injured players or sidelined coaches.
Despite earlier signals from the Trump administration about ramped-up immigration enforcement during the NFL’s biggest weekend, new reports confirm that ICE agents will not be patrolling around Levi’s Stadium or at NFL-sponsored events in the lead-up to the Seahawks-Patriots showdown on February 8.
That’s a significant development, especially given the tone set by senior administration officials in recent weeks. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had previously made headlines with her comments, saying, “We’ll be all over that place,” in reference to potential immigration enforcement around the Super Bowl. And longtime Trump ally Corey Lewandowski echoed that stance, warning that no event-even one as high-profile as the Super Bowl-should be considered off-limits for immigration enforcement.
But now, according to DHS officials, that won’t be the case. While agents from U.S.
Customs and Immigration Enforcement will be in the Bay Area as part of broader security efforts, they are not expected to carry out operations at the stadium itself or at any official NFL events. That’s a notable distinction, especially in a region where local officials have expressed concern that visible ICE activity could create fear among immigrant communities.
Peter Ortiz, a San Jose city councilmember, spoke to those concerns, highlighting the anxiety already present in the community. “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,” he said.
The backdrop to all of this includes heightened tensions following recent incidents involving ICE officers. In Minnesota, the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti sparked national outrage, prompting President Trump to announce a “de-escalation” in that state.
That came just two weeks after another fatal shooting involving a 37-year-old woman, Renee Good, who was shot in her car by an ICE officer. Despite these events, DHS has maintained that their security approach for the Super Bowl remains unchanged.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at DHS, emphasized that the department’s role during the Super Bowl is consistent with its presence at other major sporting events, including the World Cup. “DHS is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved,” she said, stressing that all operations would be conducted “in line with the U.S. Constitution.”
While the focus on security is nothing new for an event of this magnitude, the political overtones have added a layer of complexity this year. President Trump has confirmed he won’t be attending the game and has taken aim at the NFL’s halftime show selection-Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny. Trump has criticized the choice as “crazy” and “absolutely ridiculous,” while allies like Lewandowski have gone further, calling it “shameful” that the league would pick “someone who seems to hate America.”
Bad Bunny, for his part, has been vocal about his concerns with ICE, even citing the agency as a reason why he didn’t include U.S. mainland dates on a previous tour. “There was the issue that … ICE could be outside [my concert venue],” he told i-D magazine. “And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has stood by the league’s decision to feature the Grammy-winning artist, defending the choice amid mounting political pressure.
As the NFL prepares to host one of the most-watched events of the year, the league finds itself once again at the intersection of sports and politics. And while the action on the field promises to deliver its usual drama, the developments off the field-especially around immigration enforcement-are shaping up to be just as impactful.