Warnings of Immigration Enforcement at High-Profile Sporting Event
Bad Bunny, set to make a landmark appearance as the first-ever Super Bowl halftime performer to sing entirely in Spanish, has been warned by a former official from Donald Trump's campaign team that immigration officers will be in attendance at the national spectacle.
Immigration Concerns at Major Events
During a discussion on a popular TV series, the former campaign manager was questioned about the possibility of immigration enforcement at the Super Bowl, specifically during Bad Bunny's performance. He responded affirmatively, declaring, "There is nowhere you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally. Not the Super Bowl and nowhere else."
He went on to say, "We will find you, we will apprehend you, we will put you in a detention facility, and we will deport you," emphasizing the strict immigration stance of the current administration, a stark contrast to previous ones.
Controversy Over Halftime Show Performer
The ex-campaign manager labeled the selection of Bad Bunny for the halftime show as "shameful", accusing him of appearing to "hate America", and suggesting other "great bands and entertainment individuals who could be performing at that show" as alternatives.
He stressed that if there are any undocumented immigrants present, regardless of whether it's a concert for any artist, enforcement will be carried out everywhere in an effort to ensure the safety of Americans. He added, "That is a directive from the president. If you're in this country illegally, do yourself a favor: Go home."
Bad Bunny's Influence and Popularity
Bad Bunny has carved out a niche for himself as a major, mainstream artist, both in the US and globally. The Grammy-winning artist has been the most streamed on Spotify for three consecutive years and holds the record for the most-streamed album in Spotify's history. Multiple tracks from his latest album have topped the charts on the Billboard Hot 100, Apple Music and Spotify. Moreover, his recent album became the first of its year to surpass 7 billion streams on Spotify.
Reason for Artist's U.S. Tour Absence
Before being announced as the performer for the Super Bowl halftime show, Bad Bunny revealed why he excluded the continental United States from his upcoming world tour. He attributed his decision to the recent mass deportations of Latinos under the Trump administration.
He stated, "There were many reasons why I didn’t show up in the U.S., and none of them were out of hate — I’ve performed there many times," adding that all his shows had been successful and "magnificent".
The artist further shared his concerns about the presence of immigration authority possibly waiting outside his concerts. He said, "And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about."