The British daily Guardian reported on the 28th that there is a possibility that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will deploy enforcement agents around the Super Bowl stadium, the final of the National Football League (NFL), to be held in Santa Clara, California on the 8th of next month (local time).
Matt Mahan, mayor of San Jose, California, a Democrat, said in a local media interview, “I heard from the federal government that they are willing to deploy ICE agents to the Super Bowl. I don’t know if there will be an actual crackdown or if it will just be a simple scare.”
The Super Bowl is the NFL championship game and is considered the largest sporting event in the United States. This year, the rematch between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks is attracting attention.
The Guardian pointed out that although it is common to deploy security personnel to ensure the safety of visitors, it is unusual for ICE personnel dedicated to cracking down on immigrants to be deployed to the scene. There are concerns in the local community that immigration crackdowns may be strengthened in the wake of the Super Bowl, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not given a definitive answer on whether crackdowns will occur.
“We are committed to working with local and federal partners to ensure that the Super Bowl, like all major sporting events, including the World Cup, can be played safely,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said today.
The Guardian reported that as the aftermath of the ICE crackdown spreads and the possibility of being deployed to the Super Bowl is raised, anxiety is growing in the community, especially vulnerable groups such as immigrant families. Recently, a U.S. citizen died in a shooting involving ICE agents in Minneapolis, sparking controversy over excessive enforcement.
Reporter Jeong Ji-yeon
