From Borders To The Big Game: How Immigrants Defined Super Bowl LX

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Mon. 9, 2026: Super Bowl LX was more than a championship game. It became a vivid, unfiltered reflection of who America is – and who it too often overlooks. On one of the world’s most watched stages, players with immigrant roots – from Colombia to Mexico, Venezuela to Panama, Sierra Leone and Puerto Rico stood not as symbols, but as living testaments to immigrant journeys. Their presence – along with the celebration of Latino culture in the halftime spotlight – reminded us that America’s story is not written by borders alone, but by the people who cross them, contribute to them, and define them.

Elijah Arroyo #18 of the Seattle Seahawks lifts the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the NFL Super Bowl LX football game against the New England Patriots, at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, CA.The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13.Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

On football’s biggest stage, immigrant stories were not on the sidelines. They were on the field. As millions tuned in, the matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots showcased more than athletic excellence. It highlighted how deeply immigrant families are woven into the fabric of American life, even as political rhetoric continues to paint immigrants as outsiders or threats.

Several players taking the field carried stories rooted far beyond U.S. borders. Patriots kicker Andrés “Andy” Borregales became the first Venezuelan-born player to compete in a Super Bowl – a milestone that transcends sports and connects with a region long underrepresented in professional American football. Cornerback Christian González, who made incredible plays for the Patriots Sunday night, made history as the first player of Colombian heritage to appear in a Super Bowl. While safety Jaylinn Hawkins, of Panamanian descent, also took the field.

The winning Seahawks’ roster reflected the immigrant reality as well. Tight end Elijah Arroyo, whose roots trace back to Mexico, represented another chapter in the growing influence of Latino athletes in the NFL. Safety Julian Love is of Mexican and Cuban heritage, Federico Maranges brought Puerto Rican representation to the field and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the wide-receiver is of Sierra-Leone descent. Their presence underscored a truth often ignored in immigration debates: immigrant families are raising children who grow into leaders, professionals, and champions. Together, these players offered a snapshot of immigrant influence woven into the very fabric of American sport.

These were not token appearances. These are young men whose families crossed borders, worked hard, and raised children who stood on one of the world’s largest stages. Their presence challenged simplistic narratives that reduce immigrants to stereotypes, reminding us that belonging takes many forms and includes many faces.

The significance extended beyond the field.

The half-time show, headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, marked another powerful moment of visibility. Spanish echoed across the Super Bowl stage, placing Latino and Caribbean culture at the center of one of America’s most watched events. For some, this sparked discomfort and backlash. For others, it reflected the country as it exists – multilingual, multicultural, and continually evolving.

The half-time show – and the players on the field- served as reminders that immigrant voices do belong in moments that define America’s cultural calendar.

Celebrating this visibility is not a dismissal of the very real struggles immigrants continue to face, from harsh enforcement policies to detentions and discrimination. But it does reclaim a powerful truth: immigrants are creators, competitors, entertainers, and contributors to the national story.

At a time when immigrants are being vilified in political rhetoric and targeted in enforcement actions, seeing Colombian heritage, Venezuelan roots, Panamanian lineage, Mexican pride, and Puerto Rican culture woven into the Super Bowl narrative matters. It challenges the notion that immigrants are outsiders. They are not merely present – they are essential.

Sports alone will not fix immigration policy. Representation does not end deportations. But when a generation of children sees themselves in the plays called on the field or hears Spanish in the halftime spotlight, something deeper is affirmed: America is at its best when it reflects all of its people.

And this year, Super Bowl LX did exactly that.

They were athletes under stadium lights. Artists commanding global stages. Families cheering from living rooms across the country.

And on Super Bowl Sunday, they were not guests in America’s house – they were home.

Felicia J. Persaud is the founder and publisher of NewsAmericasNow.com, the only daily syndicated newswire and digital platform dedicated exclusively to Caribbean Diaspora and Black immigrant news