The NFL stated on Tuesday that it is "confident" Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will not be conducting operations at this Sunday's Super Bowl. This assertion conflicts with previous statements from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials.
NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier addressed the issue during a pre-game security briefing. "There's no planned ICE enforcement activities," Lanier said. "We are confident of that."
Her comments contradict repeated warnings from DHS advisers, including Corey Lewandowski and Secretary Kristi Noem, who said ICE would be present and that the event was not a "safe haven" for immigrants targeted for deportation.
The debate intensified after the NFL announced Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, a vocal critic of Trump-era immigration policies, as the halftime performer. At the Grammys, Bad Bunny said "ICE out" in his speech, advocating for love over hate.
DHS has recently refused to publicly confirm its plans for the game. While reports suggest private assurances were given to local law enforcement that no enforcement is planned, the lack of public confirmation leaves uncertainty.