NFL Chief Security Officer: Super Bowl LX beefing up security operations in Bay Area, 'not including ICE'

Cathy L. Lanier, Chief Security Officer for the NFL, speaks during a press conference about public safety plans for Super Bowl LX at the Super Bowl LX Media Center at the Moscone Center on February 3, 2026, in San Francisco, California.

 Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium will be fortified by a “substantial law enforcement presence” spanning land, air, and sea. While security operations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area are extensive, Super Bowl officials have noted that immigration officers will not be part of the deployment for this Sunday’s game.

“We have multiple command centers that we are operating as the federal government in concert with our local partners,” Jeff Brannigan, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) federal coordinator, told ABC News on Friday. “It’s a broad footprint with a lot of personnel. Some are uniformed and, very clearly, government officials of some way.”

As a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) 1 event, the Super Bowl is recognized for its significant national and international importance, necessitating extensive interagency security support.

According to Associate Chief of Operations Brian M. Clark, this year’s efforts include “hundreds of federal special agents” from across the government.

 

While specific tactical details remain confidential, the security net includes the FBI, ATF, U.S. Coast Guard, CISA, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Additionally, the DEA’s Pacific and Southwest regions will provide direct support to state and local law enforcement to ensure a secure environment.

CBP will be considered the “front line,” with their job at the Super Bowl being focused on safety and trade. They use X-ray scanners to check vehicles for explosives, fly helicopters to monitor the airspace, and seize counterfeit NFL merchandise. They are there to keep the venue secure, not to perform immigration sweeps, officials added.

“For Super Bowl events, you have a lot of human trafficking that comes in,” he said. “You’ll also see a lot of drug trafficking that comes in the area for parties and things … So, we would like to say for people to be aware, to have that conversation. Take this time, when you’re gathering with your friends and family, have that conversation about the dangers of fentanyl, because one pill, one time can kill.”

 

The Coast Guard is also deploying specially trained explosive‑detection canines around Levi’s Stadium and other Super Bowl event sites, and is assisting in monitoring for unauthorized drones in the area.

“This is something that we do every day, just a more robust and augmented response,” said Commander Jarod Toczko at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco’s base on Yerba Buena Island on Wednesday. “When you have an event such as this, obviously, that presents additional security measures with the crowds that are gathering.”

Despite concerns over potential ICE activity in the Bay Area, NFL Chief Security Officer Cathy Lanier stated that the agency will not be involved in Super Bowl operations. The DHS further noted that no immigration enforcement actions are planned, ensuring the security focus remains strictly on public safety.

 

“We are confident of that,” Lanier stated at a public safety press conference. “Our Department of Homeland Security, who’s been our partner for more than 20 years now and is made up of more than 20 different departments, will send a variety of different agencies. It does not include ICE. There is no ICE deployed with us at the Super Bowl. And I don’t believe there has been in the last several.”