1 of 5 | NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier speaks at the Super Bowl LX public safety news conference Tuesday at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
There are no known specific or credible safety threats to Super Bowl LX or planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations related to the game, officials said Tuesday in San Francisco.
“There are no planned ICE enforcement activities,” NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier said at the league’s annual public safety news conference at the Moscone Center.
“We are confident of that. Our Department of Homeland Security has been our partner for more than 20 years now. It is made up of more than 20 different departments and will send a variety of different agencies, which does not include ICE.”
Lanier said she doesn’t “believe” ICE was active for other recent Super Bowls.
More than 300 anti-ICE protests were held Saturday throughout the United States in response to the deaths of two activists in Minneapolis and deportation efforts from the Trump administration.
Lanier declined to say if ICE could operate without notification to other agencies working together as part of a comprehensive safety plan.
Jeffrey Brannigan, a federal coordinator special agent for DHS, said he would “defer to” Lanier, when asked if he could make a commitment to no immigration enforcement at Super Bowl related events.
Lanier’s announcement came months after Homeland Security advisor Corey Lewandowski said ICE agents would conduct enforcement at the game. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a day later that there was “no tangible plan” for agents to be active at Super Bowl LX.
Leavitt deferred to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem when asked Tuesday about ICE’s potential presence at Super Bowl LX. Noem said in October that agents would be “all over that place,” when asked if ICE would be present at the game.
Super Bowl LX halftime performer Bad Bunny has been critical of ICE tactics. He told i-D magazine in a 2025 interview that he left U.S. cities off of his tour schedule because of ICE’s potential presence at his concerts and the potential deportation of Latino attendees.
He also criticized ICE in an acceptance speech at Sunday’s Grammy Awards.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said after accepting the award for the Best Musica Urbana Album.
Fans continue to splash into the Bay Area this week ahead of the game, but the security strategy for the week of Super Bowl LX started 18 months ago. Police dogs, thousands of human federal and local officers, bomb technicians and even a national nuclear security administration helicopter hovering over the Bay are examples of their early efforts.
Many more operations are being conducted behind the scenes as the NFL works in coordination with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, local police and dozens of other agencies.
“There are no known specific or credible threats to the Super Bowl or any other related events,” Lanier said.
An estimated 90,000 people from outside the Bay Area will visit this week, according to a study by the Bay Area Host Committee.
Airlines scheduled an additional 28 flights at San Francisco International Airport in preparation for the festivities. Officials expect more than 1.3 million passengers at SFO between Feb. 1 and Feb. 10, with 170,000 on Monday.
San Jose Mineta International Airport, the closest airport to Levi’s Stadium, expects to welcome more than 230 additional flights this week.
Lanier, who is working to secure the Super Bowl for the 10th time of her career, advised fans to plan ahead and prepare for road closures, traffic delays, limited parking and temporary flight restrictions. As in past years, Super Bowl LX received a Level 1 Special Event Assessment Rating from the DHS, which describes the designation as requiring “extensive federal interagency support.”
Sanjay Virmani, the FBI’s special agent in charge, said responses to a critical incident would be “seamless and immediate.”
“Our goal is simple: for fans to enjoy the Super Bowl safely, and confidently,” Virmani said. “The public’s awareness is also an important part of the safety of our event.”
Fans are expected to congregate in tourist areas throughout San Francisco, with many of those attractions located about 45 miles north of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, the home of Super Bowl LX. Fans also flocked to Monday’s opening night, which was held in San Jose, the largest city in the region.
Cory Morgan, the chief of the Santa Clara Police Department, said the area’s increased experience since hosting its first Super Bowl aided in their recent efforts.
Levi’s Stadium last hosted the game in 2016. Since then, the stadium has hosted more than 200 major events.
“That experience matters,” Morgan said. “It’s given us a clear understanding of what it takes to safely host an event of this scale and significance.”
Fans can expect temperatures ranging from the low 50s to mid 60s this week in the Bay Area. Unique merchandise and free entertainment will be available in the days leading up to Super Bowl LX. The least expensive tickets for the game were listed for about $4,800 Tuesday on the secondary market.
The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will compete in Super Bowl LX at 3:30 PST Sunday in Santa Clara.
NFL: Patriots, Seahawks attend Super Bowl LX opening night event
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (L) and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold chat on the stage at the Super Bowl LX Opening Night media event leading up to Super Bowl LX in San Jose, Calif., on February 2, 2026. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
