San Jose say they will protect against ICE during 2026 Super Bowl, World Cup as immigrant fears persist
Dozens came out Monday night for a city of San Jose-sponsored event ahead of the Super Bowl .
The gathering brought together small businesses from the city's east side.
The goal was to try to help them benefit from the surge of tourism money expected to flow into the region come February.
"I just think it's important for businesses like ours to just get an understanding of the temperature, like what people want and just see what we can do differently," said Brandon Quintanilla, the CEO of EMLN.
But business was just one topic being discussed Monday.
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As much excitement as there is ahead of the Super Bowl, there's also a sense of anxiety.
President Trump has vowed to send ICE agents to the South Bay for the event, and that promise has not gone unnoticed.
Particularly by people like San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who says he's been working to shield immigrant communities.
"I have personally authored a memo to implement ICE-free zones so that ICE cannot do stagings and operations on city and other properties. We've also partnered with the county to do that. I've also advocated for the city to allocate $1.5 million for immigration defense," said Ortiz.
San Jose officials tell us they've been preparing not just for the Super Bowl, but also for other upcoming events like the World Cup for months.
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A time they view as a once-in-a-generation chance to showcase the city to a global audience.
"We want to see as many visitors come in and get to experience our great community, our businesses and the diversity that makes us a unique city," said Jennifer Baker of San Jose's Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs.
But despite that pressure, many here say they're ready.
"It's just our time, man. We've been waiting for this moment," said Quintanilla.
The Super Bowl is set to take place at Levi's Stadium on February 8.
