FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, Feb. 2, 2026

Santa Clara, California – Sex workers and advocates will be rallying on Monday, February 2nd from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the San Jose Convention Center.

We object to the huge spending on “anti-trafficking operations” around Super Bowl LX, being held Sunday, February 8th at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara. Dozens of law enforcement agencies, including ICE, are coming together for these operations. Is this push really about anti-trafficking or is it a pretext for a crackdown to arrest and deport immigrants? 

“It feels like Groundhog Day,” said Soma Snakeoil, Executive Director of The Sidewalk Project:

“Every year the same fake stories about sex trafficking at the Super Bowl resurface. There’s not a shred of evidence to support an increase in sex trafficking at the Super Bowl. A simple web search or checking Snopes.com would show this is false. Even the Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women has debunked it. Historically, these operations target sex workers for arrest and few, if any, victims of trafficking are actually found. Sex worker criminalization and deportation does not increase safety for anyone.”

So why does this urban myth keep coming back – year after year? The simple answer – it delivers money for law enforcement and scam “anti trafficking” non-profits. For example, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors recently approved $27,456 in overtime funding for Human Trafficking operations for Superbowl LX based on an average overtime rate of $156 per hour while state and federal budgets for survivor services have been drastically cut. This illustrates their priorities: money for law enforcement, nothing for survivors.

“Why doesn’t the government start properly funding social safety nets, permanent housing, and robust physical and mental health care,” says Soma Snakeoil.

“At a time when ICE has been shown to be racist murderous thugs it is unbelievable that they would be allowed anywhere near our communities. Plus, if there was any real care for victims of violence and exploitation then the authorities would be addressing the massive rise in women’s poverty,” said Rachel West of US PROStitutes Collective. Most sex workers are mothers. 

“We showed through our Guaranteed Care Income San Francisco pilot that there is a humane and effective alternative to law enforcement crackdowns. Ten single mothers at risk of criminalization or losing their children to the child welfare system, got $2,000 a month — some were active in sex work. Coordinated by In Defense of Prostitute Women’s Safety (IDPWS) and partner organizations, the pilot showed that putting money into mothers’ hands means better health, welfare and safety along with reduced criminalization and child removal. Considering these definitive and positive results, why can’t the money squandered on raids, arrests, deportations and repression go instead to rolling out a permanent Guaranteed Care Income throughout the State.”

The rally is being called by the Stop the Raid Committee, which campaigns for the decriminalization of sex work. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

 Rachel West, US PROStitutes Collective, rachelwest@allwomencount.net, 415-640-4250

Soma Snakeoil, The Sidewalk Project, soma@thesidewalkproject.org 415-966-601