12:55 pm - May 7, 2026
The National Football League is facing mounting pressure ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl as controversy swirls around immigration enforcement and halftime performer Bad Bunny. More than 184,000 people have signed a petition calling on the NFL to denounce the potential presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The liberal advocacy group MoveOn plans to deliver the petition to the NFL’s New York City headquarters on Tuesday. Meanwhile, anticipation continues to build around how Bad Bunny, the Spanish-speaking headliner, will address the politically charged moment during his halftime performance.
The Puerto Rican superstar has been vocal in criticizing President Donald Trump on issues ranging from hurricane response in Puerto Rico to immigration policy. At Sunday’s Grammy Awards, Bad Bunny blasted ICE while accepting an award, according to the NFL. His latest tour notably skipped the continental United States due to concerns that his fans could be targeted by immigration agents.
Political Tensions Surround Super Bowl Week
President Trump has called Bad Bunny a “terrible choice” for the halftime show and confirmed he will not attend this year’s game, unlike last year. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has labeled the event the “woke bowl” and announced plans to watch an alternative show hosted by conservative group Turning Point USA instead.
The Super Bowl represents one of the few remaining cultural events viewed by millions in real time. However, this year’s game is unfolding at what observers describe as a tinderbox moment for the country, coming two weeks after Alex Pretti’s killing by federal agents in Minneapolis reignited debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.
Former New York Giants player Tiki Barber, who played in the 2001 Super Bowl, expressed concern about the politicization of the event. “The Super Bowl is supposed to be an escape, right? We’re supposed to go there to not have to talk about the serious things of this country,” Barber said, adding that he hopes the game doesn’t devolve into political conflict.
Bad Bunny Stands Firm on Political Stance
Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Bad Bunny has elevated Latino music into the mainstream with songs performed almost entirely in Spanish. He previewed his Super Bowl appearance while hosting Saturday Night Live in October, joking that “everybody is happy about it — even Fox News” before delivering remarks in Spanish about Latino pride.
Vanessa Díaz, a professor at Loyola Marymount University and co-author of a book about the artist, said Bad Bunny has made his values clear. “He has made it very clear what he stands for, so I can’t imagine that this would all go away with the Super Bowl,” Díaz noted.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the selection on Monday, describing Bad Bunny as “one of the great artists in the world” who understands the Super Bowl’s power “to unite people.” The league, which is working to expand its appeal globally including in Latin America, said it never considered removing the performer despite criticism from Trump and his supporters.
Immigration Enforcement Presence Remains Unclear
Department of Homeland Security official Jeff Brannigan reportedly hosted private calls with local officials and the NFL indicating that ICE does not plan to conduct law enforcement actions during Super Bowl week or at the game, according to two NFL officials. NFL chief security officer Cathy Lanier stated Tuesday that the federal security presence would be consistent with past Super Bowls and confirmed ICE would not be among federal agencies present.
However, DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin refused to clarify whether immigration agents would be at the event this week. Additionally, DHS official Corey Lewandowski previously stated in October that ICE agents would conduct immigration enforcement at the game, saying “there is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in the country illegally.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Bad Bunny’s anti-ICE Grammy statement on Tuesday. “It’s very ironic and frankly sad to see celebrities who live in gated communities with private security, millions of dollars to protect themselves, trying to demonize, again, law enforcement,” she said.
An October poll from Quinnipiac University found that about half of Americans approved of Bad Bunny as the halftime performer, though substantial partisan gaps emerged. Approximately three-quarters of Democrats backed the selection compared to just 16 percent of Republicans.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie expressed optimism that the event would proceed successfully despite political tensions. “We are going to keep everybody safe — our residents, our visitors,” Lurie said, adding that his team is monitoring the situation closely but expects everything to be safe and fun.
The full extent of federal immigration enforcement presence at Sunday’s game remains uncertain, as authorities have not provided definitive confirmation despite NFL assurances. The halftime performance itself will likely clarify how directly Bad Bunny addresses the ongoing national debate over immigration policy.
