DHS and Super Bowl Security

As Super Bowl XLVI approaches, the question of security inevitably arises. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano was in New Orleans on Wednesday to finalize security preparations for the upcoming Super Bowl. DHS is providing security assistance to local officials. The Washington Post's 'Federal Eye' posed a number of questions as to the level of support and responsibility for security funding in an article entitled "Napolitano Traveling to New Orleans to Discuss Super Bowl Security". Answers to a few of the questions are provided by Forbes in its feature "Security is Big Business at Super Bowl XLVII". Additionally, the New Orleans' Times-Picayune newspaper reported on the Secretary's meeting with local officials and comments made in the following article: "Super Bowl 2013 security to be high, making New Orleans 'no safer place to be'". For more on Super Bowl security, see also:

1. "Security Tight in New Orleans for Super Bowl"

2. "Security Is Big Business at Super Bowl XLVII"

3. "New Orleans Super Bowl 2013: Police Have Work Cut Out for Them"

4. "New Orleans’ Challenge: Policing the 'Super Gras'"

DHS has not restricted its Super Bowl activities to security. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been very busy in the days leading up to the championship game. John Morton, the Director of ICE, reports the following: "On the eve of Super Bowl XLVI, ICE has already scored a victory. Through Operation Fake Sweep, a nationwide enforcement operation targeting stores, flea markets and street vendors selling counterfeit game-related sportswear, we seized more than 42,692 NFL trademarked items with a record-breaking value of $4.86 million – up from $3.72 million last year." See "ICE Seizes Fake Merchandise and Websites Ahead of Super Bowl XLVI" for the full article.

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