Man dressed as Batman takes over Santa Clara City Council meet over ICE actions, urges council to “f***ing do something”

At a Santa Clara City Council meeting this week, a man dressed as Batman delivered an angry speech criticizing the city’s perceived cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The incident unfolded amid growing national protests over federal immigration enforcement and heightened tensions following the recent deaths of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good during ICE-related encounters in Minnesota.

Speaking during a joint meeting of the Santa Clara City Council and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority on January 27, 2026, the masked speaker accused local officials of failing to protect residents and allowing federal authorities to overstep their bounds. The moment quickly went viral after the video circulated online, with the speaker ending his remarks by urging council members to “f***ing do something”, as reported by TMZ on January 29, 2026.

More on what was said about ICE

According to the report by TMZ, the unidentified man approached the podium dressed as Batman and was listed simply as “Batman” on the meeting’s speaker monitor. He launched into a three-minute tirade that began with an expletive and accused city leaders of being “cowards” and “traitors” for what he described as their compliance with ICE operations.

The comments focused on concerns over federal immigration enforcement in Santa Clara, particularly in light of the upcoming Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026. Federal authorities have indicated that immigration agents are expected to be present in the region during the event. However, officials have said there are no plans for immigration enforcement at the stadium itself. During his remarks, the speaker demanded that the city ensure no local law enforcement or city resources be used to assist immigration enforcement.

On January 30, 2026, USA Today reported that the man challenged council members directly, asking whether they could “go home to your children” and say they had done everything possible to protect their community. Because the comments were made during the public comment portion of the meeting, council members did not respond directly. After finishing his remarks, the man left the podium to applause, and city officials thanked him for his input.

The outburst reportedly came amid uncertainty over ICE’s role in Super Bowl security. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan told KTVU that officials had been informed ICE would be present in the region. However, he said it was unclear how much of that was rhetoric versus operational planning, as reported by USA Today.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that it would conduct security at the Super Bowl “in line with the U.S. Constitution,” adding that it would not disclose details of future operations. The National Football League also confirmed it has been coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure safety, consistent with previous Super Bowls designated as high-security events.

The Santa Clara incident unfolded against a backdrop of expanding anti-ICE demonstrations across the United States. According to The Guardian, grassroots organizers have planned strikes and nationwide protests calling for immigration and enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection to be removed from cities and communities. These actions are tied to outrage over multiple deaths connected to ICE operations since the start of the year, including those of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis, as reported by The Guardian on January 29, 2026.

Organizers have framed the protests as a response to what they describe as increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics and a lack of accountability. Polling cited by The Guardian indicates growing public opposition, with more Americans now supporting abolition than opposing it.