The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not plan immigration operations at this weekend's Super Bowl in Santa Clara, sources said. Security is expected to mirror past Super Bowls, with Homeland Security Investigations coordinating several federal agencies. The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of ICE after a recent Minnesota operation that resulted in two deaths and prompted nationwide protests. Halftime headliner Bad Bunny has publicly criticized ICE and used his Grammy acceptance speech to call for "ICE out."
ICE Will Not Conduct Immigration Raids At Super Bowl, Sources Say
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; The Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots helmets are displayed with the Vince Lombardi Trophy before a press conference for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not plan to carry out immigration operations at this weekend's Super Bowl in Santa Clara, two people familiar with the security arrangements told Reuters on Monday.
Officials say security for Sunday's game, which will pit the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots, is expected to follow the same model used at previous Super Bowls. One source pointed to an email the Bay Area Host Committee sent last week to local elected officials describing the planned approach.
Immigration enforcement actions by ICE are not typically mounted at Super Bowl events, the sources said. The announcement comes amid heightened attention to the agency after a recent incident in Minnesota — an operation involving ICE agents that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. citizens — which has sparked protests and renewed scrutiny nationwide.
Halftime headliner and 2026 Grammy winner Bad Bunny has voiced public concerns about federal immigration enforcement. The Puerto Rican artist, who postponed some performances in the continental United States during a recent tour out of concern that federal agents might target concertgoers, used his acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammys to call for the agency's removal, declaring "ICE out" and saying, "We're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans."
When asked about ICE enforcement at the game, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement to ensure a safe event.
"We're working with local, state and federal law enforcement to make sure it's a safe environment," Goodell said at a press conference, adding that the federal government has long been a major part of Super Bowl security planning.
In past years, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a unit of ICE, has participated in security operations; this year HSI is helping to coordinate several federal agencies involved in the event's security, a second source said. Both people who provided details asked not to be identified and were not authorized to speak publicly.
ICE is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On Monday afternoon (around 1 p.m. PT / 2100 GMT), fewer than 100 people staged a protest outside the NFL's Opening Night event in San Jose to voice opposition to ICE's actions, according to organizers and witnesses.
Bad Bunny's selection for the halftime show has drawn criticism from some right-wing groups and conservative figures, including comments from Governor Kristi Noem. Organizers, league officials and federal partners say security plans are intended to follow established protocols with no specific immigration enforcement operations planned at the stadium.
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