Feds ramping up security preparations for 2019 Atlanta Super Bowl

Tom Homan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said about the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies involved: “They are going to do everything humanly possible to keep a safe Super Bowl.” HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Tom Homan, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said about the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies involved: “They are going to do everything humanly possible to keep a safe Super Bowl.” HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Federal law enforcement authorities are already ramping up security preparations for next year’s Super Bowl in Atlanta, though it is 10 months away.

A planning meeting has been scheduled for federal agencies here next week, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Atlanta office, which is the federal government’s point agency for the Feb. 3 event. Nick Annan, ICE’s special agent in charge of homeland security investigations in Atlanta, is the event’s federal coordinator.

ICE will work with state and local police on security at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The agency will also share intelligence with them about potential terrorist activities, screen foreign visitors and investigate the sale of counterfeit goods.

"We are basically partners with the locals," said Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan, who was in Atlanta Thursday to attend an International Association of Chiefs of Police conference. "They are going to do everything humanly possible to keep a safe Super Bowl."