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The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not plan to conduct immigration operations during Super Bowl LX, which will take place this Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
This is indicated in a memorandum from the Bay Area organizing committee addressed to local officials, as cited by outlets such as The Washington Post and The Athletic.
According to the document, "there are no planned immigration control operations by ICE in relation to Super Bowl LX."
The clarification was sent to elected officials in the cities of Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San José, after strong concerns arose about potential raids at one of the largest sporting events in the country.
Although ICE will not conduct immigration operations, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will have a presence with federal agents to ensure public safety, a common practice in previous editions of the Super Bowl and other major sporting events, such as the Olympics and the World Cup.
The announcement undermines previous statements made by the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, who had claimed that her agency would be "everywhere" during the event, which was interpreted as a direct warning to undocumented immigrants.
Organizations defending the rights of migrants and activists in the Bay Area warned about the potential impact that a possible ICE operation could have on Latino communities, particularly near the stadium where the Seattle Seahawks will play against the New England Patriots.
The immigration theme has also influenced the atmosphere of the Super Bowl through the artistic selection.
The halftime show will be headlined by Bad Bunny, who recently used the Grammy stage to directly criticize ICE with the phrase: "Before thanking God, I'm going to say: out with ICE."
The Puerto Rican artist is an outspoken critic of the immigration policies of the Trump administration. His stance has also been echoed by Green Day, whose vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong supports the "anti-deportation" protests.
The president Donald Trump confirmed that he will not attend Super Bowl LX.
In an interview with The New York Post, he stated that he dislikes the selection of musical artists for the event and described Bad Bunny and Green Day as a "terrible decision" for, in his view, "spreading hate."
Although Trump does not agree with the artists, he clarified that this is not the main reason he plans to skip the party.
He pointed out that the stadium is "too far away" and that he would only consider going if the journey were shorter. Despite attending last year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, this year he decided to stay out.
Last October, after it was announced that Bad Bunny would headline the halftime show, Kristi Noem issued a warning that many interpreted as intimidating: "You shouldn't come to the Super Bowl unless you are a law-abiding U.S. citizen."
His words reinforced the perception of a zero-tolerance policy even in cultural and sporting spaces.
Therefore, the memo from the organizing committee now aims to clarify that there will be no ICE operations directly related to the event, although there will be a presence of federal security.
Super Bowl LX will take place on February 8 in Santa Clara, amidst a climate where sports, immigration politics, and pop culture increasingly intersect.
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