ICE Sends Message To Super Bowl Fans After Minneapolis Shooting Sparks Major Safety Concerns

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The Department of Homeland Security said it will keep full security in place for Super Bowl LX, despite growing anger after two deadly incidents involving federal officers in Minneapolis. The game will be played on February 8 in Santa Clara, only days after protests erupted across the country.

DHS addressed safety concerns around Levi’s Stadium and said its plans will not change. The comments come as critics accuse federal officers of using excessive force during recent immigration actions. Those deaths have now become part of the conversation as the Super Bowl approaches.

“DHS is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the Super Bowl is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the World Cup,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told TMZ Sports.

She added, “Our mission remains unchanged. Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear.”

Deaths Create Protests And Raise Super Bowl Concerns

The latest flashpoint came Saturday in Minneapolis. US Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37 year old VA intensive care nurse, during an immigration raid. Officials said Pretti approached agents with a 9mm handgun and resisted arrest.

Video footage tells a different story. It shows Pretti filming agents with his phone on a sidewalk. Witnesses said he stepped in after officers shoved a woman to the ground. Agents pepper sprayed him, tackled him, and pinned him to the street. Six agents restrained him before gunfire erupted.

Pretti’s family rejected the government’s account. His parents, Michael and Susan Pretti, called the official version “sickening lies.” They said their son held a cellphone, not a weapon. They described his final moments as an attempt to protect a stranger.

Pretti had no criminal record. He worked as a nurse caring for veterans. His death fueled nationwide “ICE OUT” protests that demanded federal agents leave American cities.

Another deadly incident followed weeks earlier. On January 7, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Good, a mother of three, while she drove through a residential neighborhood. The Trump administration labeled Good a “domestic terrorist.” An independent autopsy contradicted that claim. It found a gunshot wound to her temple as she drove away.

Despite the backlash, DHS signaled no change in posture. “We will not disclose future operations or discuss personnel,” McLaughlin said. “Super Bowl security will entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution.”

Local officials in Santa Clara now prepare for possible protests near the stadium. They expect large crowds, heavy security, and lot of emotions as kickoff approaches.