In San Francisco, ahead of Super Bowl LX, digital billboards showing support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have begun to make their presence known. One ad stands out with a football-themed message proclaiming, “Defensive Player of the Year: ICE,” paired with an image of an agent holding a trophy.
This campaign is funded by American Sovereignty, a conservative nonprofit that also announced a multimillion-dollar initiative promoting stronger ICE and border security. They shared their message on social media, expressing gratitude to ICE officers for their dedication to protecting America, particularly in San Francisco.
Digital billboards have showcased various soccer-themed messages in favor of ICE, including slogans like “You can’t win without defense, and America can’t win either” and “Cheers as the home team finally starts investing in defense.” They emphasize the idea that “defense wins championships,” paralleling the need for a safe nation.
Interestingly, this announcement comes as the nonprofit revealed plans for a major advertising campaign over the weekend, with two pro-ICE ads expected to be aired nationwide, focusing particularly on areas like the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Michigan, and Georgia.
The Bay Area has a history of opposing ICE operations. Recently, many community groups and labor unions gathered in San Jose to protest against government immigration enforcement, expressing concerns that ICE might increase its presence in the vicinity of Levi’s Stadium during the Super Bowl.
However, the NFL has confirmed that there will be no ICE immigration duties carried out during the event. NFL Chief of Security Cathy Lanier stated that no ICE or immigration enforcement activities are planned before or after the Super Bowl.
