NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has downplayed the possibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents being present at this Sunday's Super Bowl, despite comments from President Donald Trump that it was a "largest immigration enforcement operation ever" in Minnesota last month.
The comments come after two people were killed by ICE agents in the US since Trump launched the operation. Reuters reported that security measures ahead of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will be similar to those in previous Super Bowls.
Goodell maintained that the focus on security is paramount, but also stated that it's a "SEAR-1 level event" involving unique assets from federal, state, and local agencies working together. He reassured that the administration, including his own, is committed to making sure it's a safe environment for all.
It appears that despite Goodell's words, the presence of ICE agents has not been officially confirmed by the NFL. The league was also criticized last month after rapper Bad Bunny performed at the NFL's Opening Night event in San Jose, where he made anti-ICE comments during his set.
Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show despite President Trump calling it "absolutely ridiculous" and expressing disapproval of the artist's stance on immigration. Goodell defended the choice, stating that Bad Bunny is a great artist who understands the platform and its purpose to unite people through creativity and talents.
The match between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California this Sunday, with live coverage available on Sky Sports NFL.
The comments come after two people were killed by ICE agents in the US since Trump launched the operation. Reuters reported that security measures ahead of the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will be similar to those in previous Super Bowls.
Goodell maintained that the focus on security is paramount, but also stated that it's a "SEAR-1 level event" involving unique assets from federal, state, and local agencies working together. He reassured that the administration, including his own, is committed to making sure it's a safe environment for all.
It appears that despite Goodell's words, the presence of ICE agents has not been officially confirmed by the NFL. The league was also criticized last month after rapper Bad Bunny performed at the NFL's Opening Night event in San Jose, where he made anti-ICE comments during his set.
Bad Bunny will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show despite President Trump calling it "absolutely ridiculous" and expressing disapproval of the artist's stance on immigration. Goodell defended the choice, stating that Bad Bunny is a great artist who understands the platform and its purpose to unite people through creativity and talents.
The match between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California this Sunday, with live coverage available on Sky Sports NFL.
especially when it comes to things like immigration and stuff... it's like, can't we all just coexist? i feel bad for bad bunny, i guess he was just speaking his mind and now everyone's making a big deal out of it. but at the same time, i get why president trump is upset. it's just so frustrating when people can't agree on anything 
anyway, i'm still hyped for the super bowl this sunday! who's rooting for seattle or new england? 
Trump's comments were pretty harsh and I feel like the NFL should be more clear on this. It's not just about safety, it's also about being respectful to people who might be affected by these operations.
. I get it, security is key but c'mon Roger Goodell, spill the beans already! Is there a chance those agents are actually just gonna show up and cause some drama? The thought of it is giving me major anxiety 
.
. Can't we just focus on the football and some good old-fashioned American entertainment instead of making a spectacle out of it? 
. I think it's great that Bad Bunny is going to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show despite some backlash from Trump 
. It shows that the league is open to different perspectives and willing to take a stand on issues that matter to people.
. The league has a responsibility to create an inclusive environment, especially when it comes to events that reach such a wide audience.
. Let's see how this all plays out! 
. I mean, Roger Goodell is trying to downplay the whole thing, but come on, if President Trump says it's a "largest immigration enforcement operation ever", that's already kinda suspicious, don't you think? 
. Interesting how Bad Bunny got to perform at the halftime show despite Trump's disapproval, I guess the NFL wants to avoid any drama 
.
Just saw that Roger Goodell is downplaying the possibility of ICE agents being present at the Super Bowl... I get why he's being cautious, but it's weird that the NFL can't confirm or deny anything about ICE presence 
. It'd be awesome if the NFL could use its platform to speak out on issues like this instead of just staying neutral 
. I mean, I know security is important, but the whole thing feels kinda shady 
. But at the same time, I get why they're trying to keep things safe... my grandma always said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"... but what about when there's a bunch of dudes with badges showing up? 
.
? It's a reminder that art has power to bring people together, even when we disagree. The NFL's decision to have him perform shows they value unity and creative expression over controversy 
. And let's not forget, security is important too 
... but it doesn't mean we can't find common ground. Maybe we should be asking ourselves: what can we do to create a safe space for everyone? 
I'm really looking forward to the halftime show tho, Bad Bunny's music is fire 
! And honestly, if anyone has a problem with his stance on immigration, that's on them, not the artist 
. The NFL should focus on making sure everyone has an amazing time and isn't worried about getting 'iced' 
.
? I get why Goodell's defending him - he's a great artist and all, but come on, Trump was NOT happy about it. It feels like the NFL is trying to take sides here, which isn't ideal 
. Not sure what the NFL's endgame on this is, though 
. Maybe we can use this as an opportunity to bring people together instead of dividing them 
. Can't he just give us a straight answer? 
. But at the same time, I can see why Trump wouldn't agree with him - it's a super sensitive topic. Maybe we'll just have to wait and see what goes down on Sunday? 
!