• Trump advisor Corey Lewandowski warned ICE agents will be present at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
• Lewandowski told conservative influencer Benny Johnson there is no safe haven for undocumented people, including at Super Bowl.
• Bad Bunny previously avoided U.S. tour dates citing fears ICE raids would target his concert attendees and fans.

WASHINGTON, DC (TDR) — A top advisor to President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could target attendees at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl LX halftime show, escalating tensions surrounding the Puerto Rican superstar’s selection for the high-profile performance.

Corey Lewandowski, 52, made the comments during an appearance on The Benny Show hosted by conservative influencer Benny Johnson. When asked whether ICE would have enforcement presence at the February 8, 2026 event, Lewandowski delivered an unambiguous warning.

“There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else. We will find you and apprehend you and put you in a detention facility and deport you. Know that is a very real situation under this administration, which is contrary to how it used to be.”

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Lewandowski serves as a special government employee advising the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Kristi Noem. Furthermore, he has been part of Trump’s inner circle since working as campaign manager in 2016 and returning to the 2024 campaign.

Bad Bunny’s ICE Concerns

The threat comes just days after the NFL announced Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl LX halftime performer at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The selection immediately sparked controversy among MAGA commentators who criticized the three-time Grammy winner’s past statements about immigration enforcement.

Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, told i-D magazine last month that he deliberately excluded the continental United States from his 2025-2026 world tour due to fears about ICE operations.

“But there was the issue of — like, f—ing ICE could be outside [my concert],” the 31-year-old artist explained. “And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”

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His world tour, which runs from December through July 2026, includes no U.S. mainland dates. Consequently, the Super Bowl halftime show represents Bad Bunny’s only scheduled American performance. Meanwhile, fans from the U.S. have been traveling to his 31-date residency at El Choli arena in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In June, Bad Bunny posted video to social media showing what he described as ICE operations in Carolina, a city east of San Juan. “Look, those motherf——s are in these cars, RAV-4s,” he said in Spanish, urging agents to leave Puerto Rican workers alone.

MAGA Backlash

Conservative commentators unleashed immediate criticism of Bad Bunny’s selection. Lewandowski himself called the choice “shameful” and questioned the artist’s commitment to American values.

“It’s so shameful they’ve decided to pick somebody who seems to hate America so much to represent them at the Halftime Show,” Lewandowski stated. “We should be trying to be inclusive, not exclusive. There are plenty of great bands and entertainment people who could be playing at that show that would be bringing people together and not separating them.”

Conservative influencer Robby Starbuck complained that Bad Bunny “literally says he isn’t touring the U.S. because of Trump’s ICE raids.” Additionally, he criticized that “most of his songs aren’t even in English,” calling the selection not “designed to unite football fans.”

Johnson amplified Lewandowski’s comments on X, writing: “CONFIRMED: ICE will be active and on-site at Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance.”

Political Dimensions

Bad Bunny has been vocal in his opposition to Trump’s immigration policies. He endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. Moreover, he recently released music featuring a Trump-like voice apologizing “to immigrants in America.”

The artist said his Super Bowl performance carries deep cultural significance. “This is for my people, my culture, and our history,” Bad Bunny said in a statement following the announcement.

Bad Bunny becomes the first solo Latino performer to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in NFL history. He previously appeared during Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s co-headlining performance in 2020.

Legal and Practical Questions

Lewandowski’s threat raises questions about immigration enforcement tactics at major sporting events. The Super Bowl typically draws over 100 million television viewers and 70,000 in-person attendees. ICE raids at such high-profile events would be unprecedented and could create security concerns.

Immigration rights advocates have criticized the Trump administration for what they describe as increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics. Nevertheless, the administration maintains that no location should serve as sanctuary for undocumented individuals.

The NFL has not commented on Lewandowski’s statements. Bad Bunny’s representatives also have not responded to requests for comment about potential security concerns surrounding the performance.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between the entertainment industry and the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Similarly, it underscores how cultural events like the Super Bowl have become flashpoints in America’s broader immigration debate.

Despite the criticism, Bad Bunny’s selection reflects his massive commercial success. He ranks as the most-streamed artist in the world and has brought unprecedented attention to Latin music globally. His Super Bowl performance promises to be one of the most-watched musical events in history, regardless of political controversy.

Should ICE conduct enforcement operations at major sporting events like the Super Bowl, or does this create security risks and chill attendance? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Follow The Dupree Report for more coverage of immigration policy, entertainment and cultural controversies.

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