Dozens of ICE agents are expected to be deployed to Levi’s Stadium, its parking lots and periphery areas during the Super Bowl. San Jose Spotlight file photo.
Federal agents are anticipated to be in the South Bay ahead of the Super Bowl, as the nation grapples with increased violence related to immigration enforcement.
There’s been local concern U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be out in force during the national sports event taking place Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. One San Jose official is raising the alarm, while a local group of advocates that documents immigration enforcement in the region is preparing to stand watch.
“(The U.S. Department of Homeland Security) 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,” Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told San José Spotlight in a statement. “We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”
District 5 San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz said he saw an internal memo sent out by the Department of Homeland Security, which said ICE agents will be landing at Moffett Federal Airfield Feb. 6. The airfield is a military airport in Mountain View.
Dozens of ICE agents are expected to be deployed to Levi’s Stadium, its parking lots and periphery areas during the Super Bowl. This would be the largest concentration of agents Santa Clara County has seen since President Donald Trump began his campaign of mass deportations, Ortiz said.
“This isn’t a game and families have the vulnerability to be impacted,” Ortiz told San José Spotlight. “I’ve been warning the city and our community. People, unfortunately, haven’t really taken this seriously, which is why I introduced more than six different memos with the City Council.”
But one person listening is Otto Lee, president of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. At Tuesday’s board meeting, Lee said ICE agents would be arrested at the Super Bowl if a situation like the Minneapolis killings happened in Santa Clara.
“The Super Bowl will be coming soon to our county, ICE already said they will be here. Let me be absolutely clear — no one is above the law, there is no such thing as absolute immunity and there is no license to kill,” Lee said at the meeting. “If anyone comes into our county masked, spreading terror, breaking laws or threatening our residents, they will be arrested by our sheriff deputies and police officers.”
The Rapid Response Network — a group of volunteers that documents ICE activity, sends alerts to the community and provides free emergency legal support for immigrants — will be increasing its capacity during the Super Bowl.
“During large-scale public events, such as major sporting events, our team reinforces its preparation to address community concerns and respond with responsibility and care,” a spokesperson for the network told San José Spotlight. “We want people to know that they are not alone and that there are resources available for them.”
Residents have been on edge since an ICE officer killed an American citizen in Minneapolis, Minnesota earlier this month, sparking nationwide protests. Further violence has broken out in Minneapolis after Renee Good’s death, with federal immigration officers killing another U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, on Saturday. Pretti was an intensive care unit nurse at a veterans hospital.
“I know there is immense fear in the community,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a post on X. “As our region prepares for Super Bowl and the threat that ICE may conduct enforcement activities in the area, I want to make one thing very clear: our San Jose police officers are here to keep you safe. They cannot and will not interrupt or assist with legal immigration enforcement — but they will protect you, your freedoms and our city.”
A spokesperson for the Santa Clara Police Department said the agency doesn’t necessarily receive advance warning of ICE’s presence. As the agency responsible for public safety at Levi’s Stadium, police officers have undergone preparations for large events such as crowd control and tactical training.
“The focus on public safety includes coordinating with event organizers and other partners to implement robust security measures for all events at Levi’s Stadium and in the city of Santa Clara,” Lt. Eric Lagergren told San José Spotlight.
Brian McCarthy, spokesperson for the National Football League, said the organization is working with federal and local agencies to ensure the safety of Super Bowl attendees. He also pointed to a news release sent during the Super Bowl in 2016, in which ICE agents were deployed to Levi’s Stadium to conduct operations against counterfeit vendors selling game-related sportswear and “contributing to security measures.”
“Consistent with previous Super Bowls as a (special event assessment rating) 1 event, our security team has worked with federal, state, local and private sector partners over the past two years to develop extensive plans to provide a safe and secure environment at our events and on gameday,” McCarthy told San José Spotlight.
ICE’s presence in Santa Clara County will be felt among families who are already vulnerable, Ortiz said.
“It’s going to increase the level of tension and fear in our area,” he said. “We’re already seeing that they are scared to go out to eat, scared to go to the local corner store, scared to send their kids to school.”
San Jose has been on the forefront of preparing for ICE activity, specifically during the major sporting events taking place this year. The city has made the effort to educate businesses and organizations ahead of the events and create contingency plans for ICE operations, which includes deescalation efforts and connection to services.
“While the city does not direct or control federal law enforcement operations, our role is clear: to protect public safety, uphold civil and constitutional rights and ensure that people can participate in community life and major events without fear or disruption,” Zulma Maciel, director of the city’s Office of Racial and Social Equity, told San José Spotlight.
San Jose has passed multiple policies to protect immigrants, including banning ICE from wearing masks in the city and using city-owned lots for staging grounds. And while Santa Clara County has also created ICE-free zones on its properties, these actions don’t apply to places like Levi’s Stadium, which is not on county property or within San Jose’s boundaries.
To enhance safety, officials are urging residents to sign up for free emergency text alerts that will inform of incidents including traffic disruptions and heightened police presence in the vicinity. People who want to receive alerts can text SBLX to 888-777. The Rapid Response Network is encouraging immigrants in need of support to contact the 24/7 hotline at 408-290-1144.
“At the end of the day, the city cannot directly impede targeted immigration enforcement. The federal government has their charge to able to do that,” Ortiz said. “What we can do is just do everything we can to support our community, make sure that they know their rights.”
This story was written by Joyce Chu for San José Spotlight. The original version of this article can be viewed here.
Contact Joyce Chu at joyce@sanjosespotlight.com or @joyce_speaks on X. Reporter Brandon Pho contributed to this story.
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