ICE does not plan to conduct immigration operations at Sunday’s Super Bowl in Santa Clara, according to reports.
Protests against Donald Trump‘s immigration enforcement agency have broken out across America in recent weeks following the fatal shootings of two US citizens, Rennee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis last month.
The death of ICU nurse Pretti two weeks after Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed by immigration officers has sparked nationwide outrage over the brutal tactics employed by the Trump administration.
And with the halftime show set to be performed by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, who took aim at ICE during his winning speech at the Grammys last weekend, fears have grown over a potential ICE raid at Levi’s Stadium during Super Bowl LX – where the New England Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.
Though despite Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem previously saying they would ‘be all over that place’, The Washington Post claims the Bay Area’s host committee has informed elected officials in San Francisco, Santa Clara and San Jose that ICE has no planned immigration operations for the Super Bowl.
The committee reportedly informed officials following calls Friday with members of the NFL security and events teams, as well as federal and local law enforcement officials.
ICE reportedly has no plans to conduct immigration operations at the Super Bowl on Sunday
Donald Trump’s agents were expected to be patrolling during the showpiece in Santa Clara
It is quoted as saying in a memo: ‘Public safety is our top priority for Super Bowl LX. We have been in daily contact with the NFL, which has confirmed the following with the Department of Homeland Security: There are no planned ICE immigration enforcement operations associated with SBLX.’
The committee added that in ‘coordination with NFL security and local law enforcement, DHS will have federal agents at the Super Bowl to keep fans safe and that the ‘federal security presence at SBLX is consistent with past Super Bowls and comparable to how DHS protects other major sporting events like the Olympics and World Cup.’
‘There are no planned ICE enforcement activities. We are confident of that,’ NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier said on Tuesday.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has not specified its plans for the NFL’s end-of-season showpiece.
‘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 said in a statement.
‘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. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.’
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also did not directly speak on the issue of potential ICE operations during his annual Super Bowl news conference on Monday.
Bad Bunny being selected to perform the halftime show has divided opinion throughout America, with the MAGA world left furious at the choice given his public disdain for Trump’s immigration policy.
Trump previously revealed plans to skip this Sunday’s Super Bowl, held near San Francisco
After winning best musica urbana album at the Grammys, the Latino artist received a standing ovation when he said: ‘Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ICE out.
‘We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans. And we are Americans. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.’
The president was initially expected to skip Sunday’s Super Bowl due to the selections of the musical performers – with another anti-Trump singer, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, set to headline the opening ceremony – and the distance of the game from the East Coast.
Yet in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, sports broadcaster and Trump ally Emily Austin claimed he will be in attendance at Levi’s Stadium.
‘Trump is going. Mark my words, he’s going,’ Austin said. ‘A little birdie at the ‘Melania’ premiere might have told me.
‘That little birdie is very close to the president and he will be going as well. And if the president doesn’t go, he’ll be going.’