Trump administration officials have indicated that immigration enforcement operations could extend to major public events, including the Super Bowl, signaling a broader approach to deterrence.
Story Highlights
- Corey Lewandowski, an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), confirmed that ICE agents will be present at the 2026 Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California.
- The announcement signals the administration’s strategy to conduct immigration enforcement at major public gatherings, departing from previous policies.
- Lewandowski warned that enforcement operations will target undocumented individuals, stating, “we will find you and apprehend you.”
- The expanded enforcement strategy aims to treat no high-profile location as exempt from federal immigration law.
Trump Official Confirms Super Bowl Immigration Enforcement
Corey Lewandowski, an advisor at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and former Trump campaign manager, publicly confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be stationed at the 2026 Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Speaking on The Benny Show, Lewandowski delivered a clear statement regarding the administration’s enforcement intent.
Lewandowski stated, “There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else.” He emphasized the active enforcement posture: “We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you.” This public communication serves as a formal notice of the administration’s intent to conduct enforcement at high-visibility public events.
ICE agents will be present at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, according to Corey Lewandowski, former Trump 2016 campaign manager and current special government employee at the Department of Homeland Security. ABC News' Alex Stone reports. https://t.co/RbI8Y5rjJ1 pic.twitter.com/a8XpuUWAAl
— ABC News (@ABC) October 2, 2025
End of Sanctuary Event Policies
The DHS advisor’s announcement indicates a policy shift from previous administrations, which often avoided high-visibility immigration enforcement operations at major public gatherings and sporting events. Lewandowski’s statement confirms that the Trump administration views no public location as exempt from legitimate federal immigration enforcement activities.
The timing of the statement, days after the NFL confirmed Bad Bunny as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer—an artist who has publicly expressed concern about ICE enforcement at his shows—has further amplified the controversy. Lewandowski publicly criticized the NFL’s choice, linking it to political and cultural divisions.
Expanded Enforcement Strategy
The planned operation for the Super Bowl reflects the administration’s broader strategy to increase ICE presence and enforcement activities beyond traditional targets like workplaces and residences. By publicly stating their intent to target major public events, officials are reinforcing their commitment to a comprehensive approach to immigration enforcement that applies consistently across all settings within the United States.
Lewandowski characterized the administration’s approach as a directive from the President to “make Americans safe” and ensure the consistent application of U.S. immigration law, thereby setting a deterrent message to undocumented communities nationwide.
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