The NFL announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement will not be one of the federal law enforcement agencies present at Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday. Security for the sporting event will remain consistent with law enforcement operations at previous Super Bowls, which have not included ICE, the NFL said on Tuesday.
NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier said there would be over 35 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers present at Levi’s Stadium to ensure the safety of all those in attendance.
“Consistent with previous years, we’re supported by more than 35 federal, state, and local agencies,” said Lanier. “All of these agencies are here to ensure that the Super Bowl, and the surrounding community, are safe while we carry out all the fun activities around the Super Bowl.”
“There are no planned ICE or immigration enforcement operations that are scheduled around the Super Bowl or any of the Super Bowl-related events,” Lanier said.
Lanier mentioned that the NFL has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security for security operations at the Super Bowl. And while DHS oversees ICE, she emphasized that ICE would not be present and that the NFL and DHS have worked together for over 2 decades on Super Bowl safety protocols. And despite concerns, DHS’s presence at this year’s game is nothing out of the ordinary.
“Our Department of Homeland Security, who’s been our partner for more than 20 years now, is made up of more than 20 different departments, will send a variety of different agencies that does not include ICE — there is not ICE deployed with us at the Super Bowl — and I don’t believe there has been in the last several,” she said. “But most of the other departments, from the Coast Guard to the … many other agencies are here.”
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However, Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for DHS, offered no such affirmation on ICE’s presence at the Super Bowl, according to The Athletic. She stressed that “the mission remains unchanged” and that DHS would not reveal any details about “future operations or discuss personnel.”
“Super Bowl security will entail a whole-of-government response conducted in line with the U.S. Constitution,” said McLaughlin. “Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”
“We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel,” she added. “Super Bowl security will entail a whole-of-government response conducted in line with the U.S. Constitution.”
