U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has revealed plans to conduct immigration enforcement operations during the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, according to a government official. The announcement was made by Corey Lewandowski, a special government employee at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who stated during an interview that “there is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in the country illegally, not the Super Bowl, not anywhere else.” Lewandowski did not specify the nature of the operations but emphasized they would be “everywhere.”
The move comes amid increased ICE activity nationwide, including a June 2025 enforcement sweep in Los Angeles that resulted in over 300 migrant arrests, many with prior convictions. Earlier this year, ICE conducted its largest single-state operation, detaining more than 1,100 migrants. The agency’s expanded efforts are supported by federal legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which has provided additional funding for enforcement actions.
The timing of the Super Bowl operations coincides with Bad Bunny’s decision to exclude the United States from his 2025–2026 concert tour, citing concerns about potential ICE raids at high-profile events. The announcement underscores escalating tensions over immigration policy and enforcement strategies in the U.S.
