Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has reaffirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will have a major presence at the 2026 Super Bowl, which is set to feature Bad Bunny as the halftime performer.
Speaking on Benny Johnson’s podcast, Noem said ICE agents will be “all over that place,” emphasizing that her department intends to strictly enforce immigration laws during the event.
“I have the responsibility for making sure that everybody who goes to the Super Bowl has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave. And that’s what America is about,” she said.
According to Noem, only “law-abiding Americans who love this country” should be attending the Super Bowl.
Noem Responds to NFL Criticism
Host Benny Johnson suggested that the NFL was deliberately trying to send a political message to former President Donald Trump by choosing Bad Bunny for the halftime show. When asked to respond, Noem didn’t hold back.
“They suck and we’ll win and God will bless us,” she declared. “We’ll stand and be proud of ourselves at the end of the day, and they won’t be able to sleep at night because they don’t know what they believe and they’re so weak. We’ll fix it.”
Her comments added fuel to an already charged conversation around the 2026 Super Bowl, which is shaping up to be one of the most politically scrutinized sporting events in recent history.
ICE Plans “Visible Presence” at the 2026 Super Bowl
The controversy first began when Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s former campaign manager, revealed that ICE agents would be deployed to the Super Bowl venue to target individuals in the U.S. illegally.
Speaking on the same podcast, Lewandowski warned that the agency’s enforcement measures would extend even to the event itself:
“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally — not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you, apprehend you, and put you in a detention facility and deport you,” he said.
“That is a very real situation under this administration, which is contrary to how it used to be.”
The statement has sparked both criticism and concern, especially among artists and fans worried about the potential impact on Latino performers and attendees.
Bad Bunny Responds to ICE Threats and U.S. Performances
Global superstar Bad Bunny, who will headline the 2026 halftime show, addressed the controversy in a September interview with i-D Magazine. He expressed concerns about performing in the United States due to fears surrounding ICE activity.
“My Puerto Rico residency will not be stopping in the U.S. because f***ing ICE could be outside [my concert],” he said. “It’s something we were talking about and were very concerned about.”
Bad Bunny clarified that his decision wasn’t motivated by animosity toward the U.S., but rather by safety and logistics.
“There were many reasons why I didn’t perform in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate,” he explained. “I’ve performed there many times, and all of those shows have been successful. I’ve enjoyed connecting with Latinos who live in the U.S.”
He added that his current residency in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated U.S. territory, still allows fans from the mainland to attend:
“People from the U.S. could come here to see the show.”
A Political Showdown in the Making
The upcoming Super Bowl is quickly turning into more than just a sports event — it’s becoming a political battleground. With Bad Bunny’s cultural influence, Trump allies’ involvement, and Noem’s immigration stance, the stage is set for a clash between politics, entertainment, and national identity.
Whether ICE’s heightened presence will actually materialize — and how it might affect performers, attendees, and the NFL’s image — remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the 2026 Super Bowl is already generating headlines long before kickoff.