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In a recent statement, Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jonsen has urged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to maintain transparency with local authorities regarding any federal immigration activities planned around Levi’s Stadium during the upcoming Super Bowl LX. Speaking on Thursday, Sheriff Jonsen emphasized the importance of collaboration between federal and local agencies to ensure community safety.
“I encourage our federal counterparts to communicate openly with us about any operations they have planned,” Jonsen stated. “Our local policies and protocols remain unchanged; we will not participate in or support ICE’s immigration enforcement efforts.” He reiterated the commitment of local law enforcement to public safety, urging residents and visitors to rely on uniformed officers for assistance during the event.
Jonsen reassured the public of the visible presence of officers during the Super Bowl, explaining, “You will likely notice uniformed personnel, and if they are not masked and are dressed in tan, green, blue, or black, rest assured they are there to protect you.” He highlighted the distinction between officers who are there to ensure safety and those who might not have communicated with local authorities, suggesting that masked officers may indicate a lack of coordination.
In closing, Sheriff Jonsen encouraged individuals to approach uniformed officers if they need help or feel unsafe, underscoring the commitment of his department to the security and well-being of all event attendees.
“If they’re masked and they’re trying to hide their identity, then someone hasn’t communicated with us,” Jonsen said.
Messaging from the Trump administration about whether ICE will be present during the game has been mixed. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told KQED, a San Francisco-based news outlet affiliated with PBS and NPR, that the department is not disclosing any future operations.
“Super Bowl security will entail a whole-of-government response conducted in line with the U.S. Constitution,” she said in a statement. “Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”
The Hill has reached out to DHS to confirm if ICE will be present during the game.
In October, DHS adviser Corey Lewandowski said on “The Benny Show” that ICE will be at the game, saying it was a “directive from the president.”
“We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you,” Lewandowski said. “So know that that is a very real situation under this administration, which is completely contrary to what how it used to be.”
Shortly after, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there was “no tangible plan” for ICE to be at the Super Bowl.
Lewandowski’s remarks came after the NFL announced that artist Bad Bunny will perform during the game’s halftime show. He slammed the NFL’s choice, claiming the league “decided to pick somebody who just seems to hate America so much to represent them at the halftime game.”
President Trump told the New York Post that he will not attend the game, saying it is “just too far away.”
Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Feb. 8 and will feature the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch with the six-time champion New England Patriots. The Patriots defeated the Seahawks in the 2015 Super Bowl.