Super Bowl Crawling With Homeland Security Agents

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is keeping a watchful eye on the Super Bowl, using everything from its in-house air force for “eye in the sky” video surveillance to Customs and Border Protection officers to inspect vehicles for contraband.

DHS’s presence at the super bowl has garnered some coverage in the press but the stories almost entirely amount to canned press releases that don’t capture the sweeping nature of the operation. So I went through the tedious work of pulling together everything I could find to map out the full extent of DHS’s involvement in the big game. Please help me continue doing this work by becoming a paid subscriber.

DHS has spent the past 18 months preparing to protect the Super Bowl and sent over 385 personnel to Las Vegas. (Never mind that there “no known, credible, specific threats,” according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.) A sprawling national security entity created in response to 9/11, DHS commands a huge number of sub-agencies, many of which are involved in the Super Bowl mission — which apparently involves watching CNN (upper right corner in photo below).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Lead Field Coordinator Cheryl Davies, Director of Field Operations, Los Angeles Field Office, receives a briefing on incident management in a tactical command vehicle near Allegiant Stadium as CBP officers conduct Non-Intrusive Inspections in advance of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Nev., Feb. 6, 2024. CBP Photo by Jerry Glaser

While both DHS and press coverage tends to frame this as a national security mission, a lot of their work has nothing to do with that. DHS’s ICE, for example, will have Homeland Security Investigations personnel cracking down on counterfeit NFL memorabilia.

“Intellectual property crimes are a massive drain on the economy, affecting everything from companies bottom bottom lines to economic expectations of everyday Americans,” said Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford at the press conference.

Necessary work, perhaps, but a national security imperative? That’s basically my point with all of this: security for a large event makes sense, but does the federal government really need to be involved, and to this extent?

A fake Vince Lombardi Trophy stands on a table of counterfeit souvenirs. Las Vegas, Nev., February 5, 2024. CBP photo by Jerry Glaser.

Anyway, here’s what each of DHS’s sub agencies will be doing:

• CBP [Customs and Border Protection]

  • CBP’s in-house air force/navy, Air and Marine Operations, will use Black Hawk as well as A-Star helicopters to “provide ‘eye in the sky’ intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flight operations in and around the various NFL venues to provide situational awareness and enhance overall security operations”

  • CBP officers scanning cargo for narcotics, weapons and explosive

  • CBP officers “will be on the frontline in detecting and intercepting these illicit goods” — i.e., counterfeit merchandise

• CWMD [Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office] — “Providing surge support from its Mobile Detection Deployment Program and its BioWatch program in coordination with the City of Las Vegas.”

• Coast Guard

  • “Pacific Strike Team is also supporting the Mobile Detection Deployment Program to bolster the Department’s ability to detect and interdict chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.”

  • “providing five Canine Explosive Detection teams to ensure the safety and security of the event.”

• CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] — 

  • “conducted physical and cybersecurity vulnerability assessments, planning exercises, and bomb safety workshops.”

  • “deploy Advisors and Emergency Communications Coordinators to support local law enforcement, emergency responders, and private partners in Las Vegas.”

• Office of Intelligence & Analysis — “Assess the threat landscape leading up to the Super Bowl”

• ICE [Homeland Security Investigations] —

  • “An HSI Special Response Team [ICE’s SWAT equivalent] is standing by to provide interior stadium tactical support if needed.”

  • “identify and open investigations against any flea markets, retail outlets, street vendors and online marketplaces selling counterfeit goods”

• TSA

  • “utilizing its National Deployment Force to increase the number of transportation security officers who will be working at LAS to screen the increased number of departing passengers following the Super Bowl. TSA explosive detection canines and their handlers will be working during Super Bowl week events at key venues including the Mandalay Bay South Convention Center, Allegiant Stadium, and LAS.”

  • “TSA will also have four Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams on the ground to conduct increased counter-terrorism patrols.”

• S&T [Science & Technology Directorate] — deploying easy-to assemble, expandable security barriers

• FEMA — “supports state and local governments by providing communication tools to help keep fans safe by ensuring state and local responders have the ability to communicate with each other and the public.”