DHS Reportedly Withdraws ICE Agents from Super Bowl Patrol

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appears to be retracting its earlier announcement regarding the presence of federal agents at the upcoming Super Bowl. According to sources cited by TMZ, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will not deploy agents to conduct immigration operations at Super Bowl LX, scheduled for February 8, 2024, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This marks a significant shift from prior statements indicating that ICE agents would be present at the event.

The DHS reportedly also confirmed that ICE would not participate in any NFL-sponsored events throughout the city during the Super Bowl weekend. This change in approach follows a Fox News poll revealing that nearly 60 percent of respondents viewed ICE’s tactics as “too aggressive,” while only 24 percent felt the level of enforcement was appropriate.

Federal agents typically attend major events like the Super Bowl to enhance security and combat human trafficking, which tends to rise during such gatherings. If the DHS is indeed scaling back its operations, the decision may be influenced by public backlash following the recent fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Further illustrating public sentiment, a separate poll conducted by YouGov found that more than half of participants expressed “very little” or no confidence in ICE’s actions. The growing discontent surrounding ICE and the immigration policies of the Trump administration poses challenges for Republican lawmakers. On the day prior, the Senate failed to pass a funding bill that included financial support for DHS immigration officers. Senate Democrats have called for reforms to ICE and other immigration enforcement measures before agreeing to any funding.

DHS Assistant Secretary Trish McLaughlin opted not to confirm the specifics of federal operations during the Super Bowl. In her statement to the Daily Beast, she emphasized, “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. 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.”

The Super Bowl has become a point of contention for President Donald Trump and his supporters, particularly due to the scheduled performance by Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny. Trump expressed his disapproval, stating to the New York Post, “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.” He further mentioned that he was unaware of Bad Bunny’s identity but criticized the decision to feature him as “absolutely ridiculous.”

The Independent has sought comments from the DHS regarding these developments, as the situation unfolds ahead of one of the most-watched sporting events in the United States.