A billboard in support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has appeared in San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl LX this weekend, sparking mixed reactions among viewers.
The digital billboard was installed above a storefront in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood, one of the city’s busiest tourist areas, photos show.
It displayed several football-themed messages that back federal immigration authorities. “Defensive player of the year: ICE,” one stated, while another read: “Cheering because the home team finally started investing in defense.”
The campaign was funded by American Sovereignty, a group that describes itself as committed to securing the country’s borders and protecting American values.
“We are saluting the brave Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who work every day in defense of America with billboards and ads in San Francisco for #SuperBowlLX,” the group wrote in a post on X on January 30. “Thank you, @ICEgov, for defending our country.”
Super Bowl LX is being played between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the home of the San Francisco 49ers.
The pro-immigration enforcement sign — installed in a famously liberal enclave — triggered a variety of responses on social media.
“Who allowed this to happen? This is Sickening,” one X user wrote, while another mocked the apparel of ICE agents, writing, “Honestly the most shocking part of the billboard is he's wearing a uniform.”
“Someone should teach them how to act like Americans and not some third world hired thugs..so they could be respected,” a third user chimed in.
A number of other commenters were thrilled with the campaign.
“I MOST DEFINITELY VOTED FOR THIS!” one X user wrote, while another wrote, “The vast majority of Americans SUPPORT the removal of all illegal aliens from the US.”
“Best sign ever,” one added.
The sign is expected to garner more eyeballs as sports fans travel to the Bay Area for Super Bowl LX on Sunday. The game — a face-off between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks — will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Polls indicate that more Americans than not have concerns about President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, which has drawn the most attention in Minneapolis. In recent weeks, hundreds of federal immigration agents have swarmed the city, leading to numerous arrests and several deadly shootings.
According to a recent Quinnipiac University survey, 63 percent of American voters disapprove of the way ICE is enforcing immigration laws, while 34 percent approve.
At the same time, 59 percent of voters believe the recent agent-involved shootings in Minnesota “are a sign of broader problems in the way ICE is operating.”
An autistic 19-year-old vanished. His mom fears he may have been taken by ICE
49ers' Kyle Shanahan and Fred Warner to appear on NBC's Super Bowl pregame show
Trump was told to skip the Super Bowl so he wasn’t booed mercilessly: report
CBS News joins Kristi Noem on ICE raid after Bari Weiss’ 60 Minutes controversy
DOJ removes ICE lawyer who told Minnesota judge ‘this job sucks’
Migrants detail horrific conditions inside Minnesota detention center: ‘No humanity’
