Mysterious Group Behind Pro-ICE Super Bowl Ad Remains Largely Unknown
A new political action committee, American Sovereignty PAC, spent millions on a Super Bowl advertisement portraying US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as community heroes, raising questions about its origins and funding. The ad, which depicts ICE agents as “friends” and “neighbors” focused on deporting “violent criminals,” aired as the agency faces increased scrutiny over alleged abuses and a potential funding crisis.
The commercial sparked immediate debate, particularly given that only 14 percent of those arrested by ICE, according to CBS News, have been charged with violent crimes. This discrepancy fueled concerns that the advertisement presented a misleading portrayal of the agency’s work.
American Sovereignty emerged seemingly from nowhere, establishing a minimal online presence – a bare-bones website launched in January and a handful of posts on X (formerly Twitter) – before launching its high-profile ad campaign. The group’s lack of transparency has drawn criticism from journalists and advocacy groups alike.
“It’s an odd situation,” one analyst noted. “Somehow, a group with virtually no public information seems to have been set up in recent weeks to buy millions of dollars worth of ads to promote the work of ICE.”
Attempts to uncover the organization’s backers have largely been unsuccessful. Journalists reaching out to the email address listed on the website, as well as to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have received no response. The group also remained silent after erecting a pro-ICE billboard in San Francisco prior to the Super Bowl.
According to filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), American Sovereignty operates as a political action committee (PAC). The paperwork identifies Daniel Scarpinato as a contact for the organization. Scarpinato previously served as chief of staff to former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) but has not responded to requests for comment.
Scarpinato is also associated with Winged Victory: The Agency, a public relations firm that specializes in “crafting the right message” and managing large-scale campaigns. Winged Victory also did not respond to inquiries.
The timing of the ad campaign is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with a period of heightened controversy surrounding ICE. Allegations of violence perpetrated by federal immigration agents have triggered significant backlash and put DHS funding in jeopardy.
American Sovereignty posted the following message on X on January 31, 2026: “ICE has one mission: to make America a safer place to live. And that’s what they’re doing. THIS is law enforcement. THIS is ICE.”
The emergence of American Sovereignty highlights a troubling trend in American politics: the ability of opaque groups to spend substantial sums of money influencing public opinion without disclosing their donors or motivations. As one senior official stated, “Ideally, in a democracy, we’d know who is spending millions trying to change public opinion.” However, the current system often allows such spending to occur in the shadows.
The mystery surrounding American Sovereignty PAC underscores the challenges of maintaining transparency in political advertising and raises fundamental questions about the influence of money in shaping public discourse.
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