Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed that it will be sending agents to Super Bowl LX in 2026, where Bad Bunny is set to headline the halftime show.
The announcement comes after remarks from Corey Lewandowski, a political adviser tied to both of Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns, who insisted that the U.S. government would not allow major gatherings to act as “safe havens” for undocumented immigrants.
Lewandowski’s remarks
Appearing on The Benny Show, Lewandowski declared:
“There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else.”
He criticized the NFL’s decision to book Bad Bunny, calling it “shameful” and claiming there were “many other performers who could have filled the slot.” He continued with a blunt warning:
“We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you.”
ICE confirms deployment
ICE echoed the sentiment in a statement, noting:
“There is no safe haven for violent criminal illegal aliens in the United States.”
While the agency hasn’t released specifics, it is believed agents will be deployed in Santa Clara, California during the week of Super Bowl festivities, not just on game day.
Bad Bunny’s perspective
The discussion reignites Bad Bunny’s own concerns about U.S. immigration enforcement. The Puerto Rican superstar has previously spoken out about avoiding American performances to prevent ICE from targeting immigrant communities.
Still, he described his Super Bowl halftime performance as something bigger than himself:
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown … this is for my people, my culture and our history.”
What’s next
With the NFL’s biggest stage colliding with heated immigration debates, the 2026 Super Bowl may be remembered as much for politics as for the game itself.
