A mystery conservative group just planted a pro-ICE billboard in the heart of San Francisco days before the Super Bowl, sparking exactly the firestorm you’d expect when sanctuary city sensibilities collide with immigration enforcement cheerleading.

When Trolling Meets Immigration Politics

The billboard appeared along San Francisco roadways in early February 2026, its NFL-themed design promoting support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The sponsor identified only as “America” remained anonymous, fueling speculation about grassroots conservative activism. Riley Gaines posted the image to social media, where it detonated predictably. Critics labeled the display provocative and worse, directing their fury at Gaines herself. The timing proved strategic, landing roughly eight days before Super Bowl LX at nearby Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, when media attention peaks and tensions run high.

WHO DID THIS?!🤣🤣🤣

Someone put up a billboard in San Francisco where the Super Bowl will be played that says:
"DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ICE"

Libs are melting down saying, “It made me sick to my stomach.”

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/qcbgB3AcCv

— 🇺🇲MagaMom🇺🇲 (@Pokemom2R) February 3, 2026

The Sanctuary City Collision Course

San Francisco’s reputation as a sanctuary city creates inherent friction with federal immigration enforcement. The billboard’s appearance in this liberal bastion represents more than advertising; it signals ideological warfare. ICE operates under the Department of Homeland Security, enforcing immigration laws that intensified under President Trump’s administration. DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin Yoho stated their mission remains unchanged, emphasizing that those here legally have nothing to fear. Yet Corey Lewandowski, a DHS adviser, delivered a blunt warning that no location provides safe haven for undocumented individuals, not even the Super Bowl.

Trump’s Boycott and Performer Backlash

President Trump announced he would skip Super Bowl LX, citing both distance and his displeasure with the entertainment lineup. Bad Bunny headlines the halftime show while Green Day performs pre-game, both vocal Trump critics. Bad Bunny previously expressed concerns about ICE enforcement affecting his U.S. tour decisions. Trump dismissed the Puerto Rican superstar with characteristic bluntness, claiming ignorance of who he is. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the selections, noting Bad Bunny’s status as a global entertainment powerhouse. The controversy underscores how even sports spectacles cannot escape political polarization in today’s America.

The billboard campaign reflects a broader pattern where conservatives push back against what they perceive as hostile media narratives surrounding ICE. OutKick characterized the advertisement as a “savage” counter to negative press, framing it as necessary patriotic messaging. The anonymous funding model allows the message without accountability, a tactic that frustrates opponents who cannot target specific individuals or organizations. Social media erupted with both support and condemnation, the digital battlefield mirroring America’s fractured consensus on immigration enforcement. The rage directed at Gaines for merely sharing the image illustrates how polarized these debates have become.

Federal Authority Versus Local Resistance

DHS confirmed ICE will conduct enforcement operations at Super Bowl LX as part of routine security protocols, similar to operations at events like the World Cup. This “whole of government” approach prioritizes safety while maintaining immigration enforcement, regardless of local sanctuary policies. The federal government’s authority supersedes municipal resistance, creating ongoing tension in California. Lewandowski’s October 2025 warning established no exceptions for major events, a position DHS maintained through February. The billboard serves as public-facing validation of this hardline stance, broadcasting support where opposition typically dominates the conversation.

The social and political impacts reverberate beyond a single advertisement. Short-term effects include heightened tensions around Super Bowl security, potential protests, and amplified immigration debate precisely when San Francisco hoped to showcase itself nationally. Long-term implications suggest normalization of pro-ICE messaging even in resistant territories, emboldening supporters while energizing opposition. ICE agents gain visibility and public backing they rarely receive in liberal strongholds, while undocumented immigrants face stark reminders of enforcement reality. The political calculation benefits Trump’s base, reinforcing his administration’s unwavering commitment to immigration control regardless of venue or occasion.

The Bigger Picture Beyond One Billboard

This episode reveals how thoroughly immigration politics have permeated American culture, reaching even sports entertainment’s supposedly neutral ground. The NFL navigates treacherous political crossfire, attempting broad appeal while satisfying diverse audiences with incompatible worldviews. Super Bowl LX becomes another proxy battleground where competing visions of America clash publicly. The anonymous “America” group demonstrates that conservative activists will bring their message to hostile territory, leveraging major events for maximum visibility. Whether this represents effective persuasion or mere provocation depends entirely on your ideological starting point, the defining characteristic of our current political moment.

Sources:

NFL-Themed, Pro-ICE Ad Appears In San Francisco Days Before Super Bowl – OutKick

ICE agents will conduct enforcement operations at Super Bowl LX, official says – KTVU