The Secretary of Homeland Security and former governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, has announced an increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the highly anticipated 2026 Super Bowl Halftime Show.
“There will be ICE enforcement present at the Super Bowl. It’s my duty to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security keeps it secure, allowing everyone attending the Super Bowl to enjoy themselves and return home safely—that’s what America represents,” stated Noem, 53, during an interview with right-wing podcast host Benny Johnson on Friday, October 3, while discussing the announcement of international superstar Bad Bunny as a performer for the halftime event.
“So yes, we will be everywhere… We’ll be enforcing the law. I believe that people attending the Super Bowl must be law-abiding Americans who have a love for this country,” she added.
(It’s important to highlight that Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and all individuals born there, including Bad Bunny, are automatically granted U.S. citizenship with full rights under the Constitution.)
Noem, who has faced backlash for her frequent ride-alongs with law enforcement—where she has allowed right-wing figures like Johnson and Dr. Phil to capture video footage of ICE operations to detain individuals accused of illegal immigration—also expressed her disapproval of the NFL’s decision to feature Bad Bunny, 31, as the halftime act.
“They have made a poor choice, and we will prevail. God will bless us, and we will take pride in our actions at the end of the day,” Noem remarked to Johnson when asked about her thoughts on the NFL. “They’ll struggle to find peace at night because they are uncertain in their beliefs and fundamentally weak. We’ll change that.”
Kristi Noem, Bad Bunny Getty Images
Johnson has also been vocal in his criticism of the NFL’s choice of Bad Bunny for the halftime performance, stating during his October 1 YouTube show that the artist is simply “a Puerto Rican guy whose music I haven’t listened to” and “sings in another language.”
(Bad Bunny’s album Un Verano Sin Ti holds the record for the most-streamed album in Spotify history, achieving over 20.6 billion streams by September 2025. He’s frequently among the top artists streamed on the platform.)
When speaking to Corey Lewandowski, a former top advisor to President Donald Trump, who is now closely aligned with the Department of Homeland Security, Johnson probed if ICE would indeed attend the Super Bowl due to Bad Bunny’s performance.
“There is no place for individuals in this country illegally to find refuge,” Lewandowski affirmed. “We will track you down and place you in detention for deportation. This administration is committed to a stark contrast with past policies.”
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was officially announced as the performer for the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show on September 28, even though he had previously stated he would refrain from performing in the U.S. due to Trump’s “immigration crackdown.”
“I had various reasons for not appearing in the U.S., none of which stemmed from hatred—I’ve performed there before,” Bad Bunny noted. “All of those shows were successful. I’ve cherished connecting with Latinos in the U.S., but quite frankly, performing in Puerto Rico is most meaningful to me… People from the U.S. can come here to see this performance.”
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He further remarked, “But the concerns were there, like ICE potentially being outside [my concert]. That was a serious matter we discussed.”
Noem’s remarks on Friday appeared to contradict statements made by the White House that same day.
“Regarding ICE’s presence at the Super Bowl, as far as I know, there currently aren’t any definite plans for that,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters on Friday. “However, we will always act to arrest and deport unlawful immigrants if they commit crimes. We’re committed to doing the right thing for our country.”
