U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas is assuring football fans everywhere that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), its agencies and partners are working in tandem to protect Super Bowl LVII, being played Sunday in Phoenix.
Mayorkas was in Phoenix and Glendale, Ariz., DHS reports, "to inspect security operations, meet with federal, state, and local law enforcement and emergency responders, and engage with National Football League (NFL) partners as the pregame week kicks off." More than 600 DHS personnel are coordinating with state and local officials "to ensure the safety and security of employees, players, and fans" at Sunday's big game, the report states.
"DHS is a department of partnerships, and our efforts here rely on our partnerships with federal, state, local, tribal, and campus agencies and, of course, the NFL," Mayorkas said in the report. "Dedicated DHS personnel are on the ground preparing and coordinating, and stand ready to provide operational and technical support to the NFL, State of Arizona, and the cities of Glendale and Phoenix to keep Super Bowl LVII safe and ensure everyone can enjoy the game.”
As with past Super Bowls, Super Bowl LVII underwent a voluntary risk assessment by DHS, and was granted a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1, the DHS reports, "meaning that it requires extensive federal support."
"The Department has not identified any credible threats related to this event." the agency reports, "However, DHS, in collaboration with our partners, continues to support operational capabilities to secure the event, curtail the sale of counterfeit goods, counter potential threats from the air, including unmanned aircraft systems, and prevent other criminal activities in support of local efforts."
In addition to infrastructure, venue and cyber security assessments, DHS is providing air security; intelligence analysis; threat assessments; detection technologies for biological, chemical, explosives, nuclear and radiological threats; and real-time situational awareness reporting; among others, the agency reports.
Particular efforts between the DHS, the NFL and state and local agencies include: video surveillance and non-intrusive inspection of vehicles and cargo by Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) units from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); physical and cyber security expertise from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); tactical support from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Response Team (SRT); threat assessments and relevant intelligence provided by Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A); and analysis of potential public health impact of toxic chemical releases by Science and Technology Directorate (S&T).
DHA is also partnering with local organizations to bring awareness to human trafficking through the DHS Blue Campaign; and providing subject matter experts and technology to detect and prevent WMD threats from the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD).
“At the Department of Homeland Security," Mayorkas said in the report, "our core mission is to ensure the safety of the American public – including at special events like the Super Bowl."
