San Jose city leaders doing what they can to calm fears about ICE activity ahead of the Super Bowl as tens of thousands of people across the Bay Area took to the streets to protest ICE and the shootings in Minneapolis. San Jose City leaders say they spoke with the NFL, and they were told immigrat ion enforcement will not be happening around the Super Bowl, but they’re not letting their guards down as many continue to speak out against ICE. In east San Jose at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, dozens of people took part in a rally against ICE. “I believe if we don’t stand for something, we’re going to fall for anything and we have to fight for our rights, for our community,” said Sonia. Educators and hundreds of students from several high schools including Silver Creek walked off campus to protest ICE on the streets. It was loud and peaceful. “We are the youth and we are the future. So now, more than ever, we just rise and make our voices heard. To the school board members that stand in solidarity: thank you. And to those who don’t, it’s now or never,” said Jonathan, a student. Those at the Mexican Heritage Plaza remembered Renee Good and Alex Pretti, the two people shot and killed in Minneapolis by federal agents. At the same time, they made it clear: they do not want ICE in the Bay Area during the Super Bowl. Mayor Matt Mahan posted on social media Thursday that he talked with the NFL – adding, “They told us that every law enforcement agency coming to the Bay Area for the Super Bowl will be focused on one thing – our safety. I know there have been many rumors swirling for months about heightened immigration enforcement and many have been living in fear. We have been told those rumors are false.” San Jose City Councilmember Peter Ortiz was at the rally and said he talked with the NFL too as well as DHS. “They’ve communicated to me that as of now, there are no plans to conduct any sort of immigration enforcements during the Super Bowl. I appreciate that information, but I take it at face value,” Ortiz said. He thinks residents should still be on high alert. “They need to have a plan for their loved ones, I encourage everyone who is part of mixed status families to educate themselves of what their rights are, and during this week, to have a plan of where they’re going and aware of their surroundings,” Ortiz said. ...read more read less