ICE expected to have ‘major, visible’ presence at Super Bowl LX
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are expected to have a major, visible presence at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the agency confirmed, according to KTTV-FOX 11.
The announcement comes on the heels of the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis and weeks of protests against the agency.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told TMZ the agency’s “mission remains unchanged” after the last weeks of controversy.
“Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear,” McLaughlin said.
Since widespread protests started, the Trump administration has escalated immigration raids in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.
Backlash to Bad Bunny’s selection as halftime performer
The trumped up enforcement efforts follow promises made back in October, when Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime show performer.
Outside of music, Bad Bunny has been a vocal advocate for his home of Puerto Rico, criticizing the lack of humanitarian aid in the wake of Hurricane Maria in 2017, the island’s gentrification in San Juan and has joined protests against government corruption. Additionally, he has challenged traditional gender roles by dressing in drag for his music video “Yo Perro Sola” and has been outspoken over the killing of Alexa Negron Luciano, a transgender woman from Puerto Rico.
He has also been critical of President Donald Trump over his treatment of the Latino community. And Bad Bunny has been vocal about refusing to perform in the U.S. over concerns ICE agents would target fans who attend his shows, according to CNN.
Following the NFL halftime announcement in October, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said she would send ICE agents to the arena where Bad Bunny is set to perform, according to Them.
In comments about why he will not be attending the Super Bowl this year, President Trump criticized both Bad Bunny and Green Day, who will perform before kickoff.
“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump said.
How can I stay safe around ICE officials?
The ACLU of Northern California said it’s important to stay calm.
“Don’t run. Don’t argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights. Keep your hands where police can see them,” the ACLU said.
The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says every person in the United States has the right to remain silent regardless of immigration status, according to Amagda Pérez, attorney and co-director of the UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic.
“If you’re not sure why you’re being asked certain questions, you (should) exercise your right to remain silent until you have counsel available to advise you,” Pérez said.
If local police officers or sheriff’s deputies pull over your vehicle and ask for identification, she said, you can be required to provide your driver’s license and proof of insurance. However, you should not be asked for proof of immigration status, Pérez said.
“A police officer is not a federal agent that has the training to evaluate a person’s immigration status,” Pérez said. “In California ... they’re prohibited from providing information to the (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security because, again, they’re not immigration agents.”
And if ICE comes to your home or business, you do not have to consent to a search without a judicial warrant. The ACLU of Northern California said administrative warrants do not give ICE permission to search homes or businesses.
However, the Associated Press obtained an internal ICE memo that authorizes agents to use force to enter a residence on the basis of administrative warrants. The Associated Press reports “the memo itself has not been widely shared within the agency, according to a whistleblower complaint, but its contents have been used to train new ICE officers who are being deployed into cities and towns to implement the president’s immigration crackdown.”
A valid judicial warrant includes the name of the person being searched for and the address that is allowed to be searched, Pérez said. An administrative warrant grants immigration officials the right to arrest someone the agency suspects is a non-citizen who does not have a lawful right to be in the country.
The Sacramento Bee’s Lauren Chapman and Camila Pedrosa contributed reporting for this story.
This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "ICE expected to have ‘major, visible’ presence at Super Bowl LX."
