ICE agents 'will carry out operations' at Super Bowl LX, officials reveal

Tricia McLaughlin Yoho, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, stated that the department is working alongside local and federal partners to ensure safety at the event, as it does for all major sporting occasions.

"Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear," McLaughlin Yoho said.

She added that security measures would be conducted "in-line with the U.S. Constitution" as part of a comprehensive government response.

The enforcement operation stems from a presidential directive, according to DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski.

Speaking on The Benny Show podcast back in October, Lewandowski made clear that immigration enforcement would not be suspended for the sporting event.

"There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally," Lewandowski said. "Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find and deport you. That is a very real situation."

The longtime Trump adviser indicated that enforcement efforts would extend across the country, stating "it will be everywhere."

President Trump himself has announced he will not attend this year's championship, citing the distance to California as a factor, despite having been present at last year's Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Critics have voiced concerns that the planned ICE presence could discourage people from attending and generate anxiety within immigrant communities.

Civil liberties advocates argue that focusing immigration enforcement on a celebratory sporting occasion may disproportionately affect individuals from immigrant backgrounds, regardless of their legal status.

The announcement has sparked considerable debate on social media, with some suggesting the deployment could create an intimidating atmosphere rather than simply providing standard security.

Opponents have also pointed to previous ICE-related incidents, including shootings that resulted in deaths of US citizens, as reasons for their apprehension about officers being present at such a widely broadcast event.

Some observers have characterised the timing and publicity surrounding the announcement as politically motivated.

Homeland Security officials have sought to reassure the public that the deployment forms part of standard security coordination rather than a targeted crackdown.

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McLaughlin Yoho emphasised that the department routinely collaborates with various agencies to safeguard major global events, including football championships and international tournaments.

The security operation at Levi's Stadium is expected to involve multiple agencies addressing potential threats ranging from terrorism to crowd management, with immigration enforcement representing just one element of a broader strategy.

At last year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, DHS deployed personnel from various sub-agencies to support security efforts, including detection of chemical, biological, radiological and explosive threats.

Notably, ICE agents did not carry out immigration arrests or deportation operations targeting fans at that event.

The NFL has not issued a comprehensive statement regarding the planned enforcement presence.