Kristi Noem, the nation’s Secretary of Homeland Security, recently made it clear that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are slated to be highly visible at the upcoming Super Bowl in February. This announcement comes as Latin music sensation Bad Bunny is set to headline the highly anticipated halftime show.
During an interview on Friday with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Noem was directly asked about the presence of ‘ICE enforcement’ at the Super Bowl. She unequivocally stated, ‘There will be,’ emphasizing that federal immigration officers would be ‘all over’ the major sporting event.
Noem articulated her responsibility: ‘I have the responsibility for making sure everybody goes to the Super Bowl, has the opportunity to enjoy it and to leave.’ She further qualified attendance, asserting that only ‘law-abiding Americans who love this country’ should be present.
Bad Bunny, the acclaimed Grammy-winning artist hailing from Puerto Rico, has achieved global fame with hits such as ‘MIA,’ ‘I Like It,’ and ‘Me Porto Bonito.’ Following the NFL’s announcement earlier this week that he would perform at the Super Bowl on February 8 in Santa Clara, California, right-wing commentators, including Johnson, quickly voiced objections. Their criticisms centered on Bad Bunny’s decision not to sing in English and his previous outspoken opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Johnson notably labeled the artist a ‘massive Trump hater’ on social media.
The superstar recently concluded a successful 31-show residency in Puerto Rico. Throughout his career, Bad Bunny has consistently used his platform to highlight economic disparities and other significant social challenges impacting his home, a U.S. territory. He has openly shared that a primary reason for his past reluctance to perform in the continental United States was a genuine concern that his devoted fanbase could become targets for ICE agents.
He expressed, ‘It’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.’
When Johnson posited that the NFL’s selection of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime headliner might be a deliberate jab at the Trump administration, Noem’s response was sharp and dismissive: ‘They suck and we’ll win and God will bless us.’
In a powerful statement released after the NFL’s announcement, Bad Bunny affirmed that his performance would honor ‘those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown.’ He added, ‘This is for my people, my culture and our history.’
Requests for comment made on Saturday to representatives for Bad Bunny, the NFL, and Roc Nation (the production company behind the Super Bowl halftime show) did not receive immediate responses.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security reiterated the administration’s stance, stating, ‘There is no safe haven for violent, criminal illegal aliens in the United States.’
For several months, the Trump administration has intensified its efforts to curb illegal immigration within numerous major cities. These crackdowns have led to instances where U.S. citizens, particularly Latino men, have been stopped and, in some cases, detained by ICE agents.
Noem’s recent remarks mirror those made earlier in the week by one of her key advisers, Corey Lewandowski, also during an appearance on ‘The Benny Show.’
Lewandowski asserted, ‘There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else.’
He concluded with a stern warning: ‘We will find you. We will apprehend you. We will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you.’