Trump Adviser Confirms ICE Presence at Super Bowl Halftime Show

A Trump administration official has stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be present at the upcoming Super Bowl, where Bad Bunny is scheduled to perform the halftime show.

Corey Lewandowski, who advised Donald Trump's 2016 and 2024 campaigns and currently works with the Department of Homeland Security, announced during Wednesday’s appearance on The Benny Show podcast. 

Host Benny Johnson asked whether ICE would have enforcement at the Super Bowl for Bad Bunny's halftime performance, and Lewandowski confirmed the agency's presence.

"There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally," Lewandowski warned. "Not the Super Bowl and no where else. We will find and deport you. That is a very real situation."

Superbowl Performer

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, in 1994, is the scheduled Super Bowl LX halftime show performer. As Cactus Politics reported, Bad Bunny has previously declined to tour in the United States, citing concerns about the presence of ICE at concerts.

Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory since 1898, after the Spanish-American War. People born in Puerto Rico have been U.S. citizens since 1917 and can travel freely between the island and the mainland without a passport.

As U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans share many of the same rights as those living in the 50 states. However, residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in presidential elections, and they do not have voting representation in the U.S. Congress, although they are still subject to federal laws.

The U.S. Supreme Court classifies Puerto Rico as a separate territory. The island operates under Commonwealth status, which provides local governance while remaining under the authority of the U.S. Congress.

Grijalva’s Fight for Puerto Rico

Former Congressman Raúl Grijalva was a prominent advocate for Puerto Rico's status. As the former chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which oversees Puerto Rico's political status, he authored the Puerto Rico Status Act back in 2022.

The bill, which passed the House in December 2022 with bipartisan support, would have allowed Puerto Ricans to participate in voting. Raul Grijalva collaborated with lawmakers from both parties and conducted hearings in both English and Spanish to gather input from Puerto Rican residents.

Despite passing the House, the Senate never voted on the measure. Grijalva reintroduced the bill in April 2023 but has made little progress since his passing.

Arizona has connections to Puerto Rico through its growing Puerto Rican population. As preparations continue for Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX halftime performance, the announcement of ICE's presence at the event has highlighted ongoing debates about Puerto Rico's political status and its residents' citizenship rights.