Batman-clad protester berates Santa Clara officials over alleged cooperation with US immigration agents

An unidentified man dressed as the comic book character Batman confronted Santa Clara city officials during a joint public meeting, accusing them of failing to protect residents from federal immigration enforcement.

The confrontation took place during a session involving the City Council, city authorities and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority on Tuesday, according to video footage from the meeting.

During his three-minute public comment, the masked speaker repeatedly slammed his hands on the podium and used frequent profanity while criticising the city’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“What the f—k are we doing here?” he said in his opening remarks, accusing city leaders of inaction despite what he described as months of advance warning.

The speaker demanded that Santa Clara immediately formalise policies prohibiting the use of city resources, data or personnel in support of ICE operations.

He argued that officials had a moral responsibility to shield residents, particularly vulnerable communities, from federal immigration enforcement activity.

“Can any one of you go home to your children and tell them that you did everything you could to protect their classmates, to protect their grandparents, to protect them?” he asked. “I don’t think you can.”

The speaker warned that council members would be betraying their constituents if they failed to take immediate and decisive action.

Rejecting the more restrained tone of earlier speakers, he escalated his remarks by directly attacking the council’s leadership.

“As of right now, I stand in front of a council of cowards,” he said. “And if you do not act, you’re not just cowards. You are traitors.”

“I’m not begging you,” he added. “I’m f—king demanding that you act with some semblance of a f—king spine. Do something.”

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal law enforcement presence at major sporting events hosted in large metropolitan areas.

Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is scheduled to host the Super Bowl in February, an event that typically draws extensive federal, state and local security coordination.

ICE has previously outlined its role at past Super Bowl events, disclosures that have prompted concern among activists and residents about potential immigration enforcement actions.

During the meeting, the Batman-clad speaker accused city leaders of allowing the federal government to “walk all over” Santa Clara during the national sporting event.

He argued that such cooperation would place residents at risk, particularly undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families living in the region.

The speaker also referenced recent enforcement actions in Minnesota, which he said resulted in two deaths and the detention of both citizens and non-citizens.

He cited the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis as examples of what he described as the dangers posed by aggressive federal enforcement.

Those incidents have sparked protests and calls from activists for ICE to withdraw from certain jurisdictions, although federal authorities have defended their operations.

Federal officers are expected to conduct immigration-related activities in connection with the Super Bowl, further fuelling concerns expressed during the Santa Clara meeting.

City officials did not publicly respond to the speaker’s accusations during his allotted time, in line with standard public comment procedures.

Santa Clara, like many California cities, operates under state laws that limit cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement, though the scope and implementation of those limits remain contentious.

The Batman-clad confrontation underscores growing tensions between local governments, federal agencies and community activists as major national events approach.

It also reflects broader debates over the balance between public safety, immigration enforcement and local autonomy in jurisdictions hosting high-profile gatherings.