The Bay Area is bracing for an influx of federal law enforcement next week for Super Bowl security operations amid nationwide scrutiny over the recent fatal shootings of two Minnesotans by federal agents.

Why it matters: While it remains unclear whether the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) on-the-ground activities will include immigration enforcement, Bay Area immigrant communities and advocates remain on edge.

State of play: The federal government treats the Super Bowl as a high-security event — almost on par with the presidential inauguration, according to NFL vice president of events Nicki Ewell.

• That means thousands of personnel — private, local and federal — will be stationed across Santa Clara and other centers of activity, like downtown San Francisco.
• While typical for major U.S. sporting events due to the risk of domestic terrorism and human trafficking, "any increased presence of immigration officials does increase the sense of fear in a community," Hayden Rodarte, an immigrant justice attorney with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, told Axios.

Rodarte, a member of the Rapid Response Network in San Francisco and San Mateo, said the 24-hour hotline expects "higher rates of calls" and will be on standby to verify reports of immigration enforcement activity and provide legal representation.

The other side: DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin declined to provide details about specific operations but told Axios via email that they will "entail a whole of government response conducted in-line with the U.S. Constitution."

• "Those who are here legally and are not breaking other laws have nothing to fear," McLaughlin added.

What they're saying: While it's important to avoid unnecessary panic, Rodarte noted the Super Bowl could be an excuse for the Trump administration to "shoehorn in illegal behavior."

• "The Department of Homeland Security has been very open about not even using the guise of security," he said, describing their approach as "arrest first and ask questions later," regardless of citizenship.
• It's important to evaluate risk "based on your own reality," said Susana Rojas, executive director of San Francisco's Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. Rojas is encouraging people to be proactive about knowing their rights and being aware of their surroundings.

Full story

The countdown to Super Bowl Sunday isn't just about football — it's also a chance to catch your favorite musicians live.

• From pop and EDM to rock, R&B and country, here are some of the top performances in the days leading up to Feb. 8.

Thursday, Feb. 5

🎸 Fall Out Boy
Maybe it's true that emo isn't dead. This throwback thrill is sure to ignite some peak 2005 energy.

• 8pm at the Regency Ballroom. Tickets here.

Friday, Feb. 6

🤘 Post Malone
The heavily tattooed rapper-turned-country singer has partnered with Bud Light to host a free outdoor concert.

• 8pm at Fort Mason.

Saturday, Feb.7

🔥 T-Pain and Sean Paul
The "Buy U a Drank" rapper and Jamaican dancehall artist are teaming up for a massive R&B party.

• 4pm at Pier 80. Tickets here.

✨ The Killers
The Las Vegas-based rock band closes out Super Bowl Eve with a performance that will have you screaming "Mr. Brightside" at the top of your lungs.

• 7pm at the Palace of Fine Arts. Tickets here.

More shows

🖼️ San Francisco's first and only contemporary Pan-African art gallery will open at Dogpatch's Minnesota Street Project on Feb. 12. (SF Examiner)

🏫 The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts has lost two directors in two months amid funding challenges. (Mission Local)

🤖 Despite the AI boom, tech job opportunities in San Francisco are not keeping pace, highlighting the city's changing job market. (SF Standard)

Eugene Onegin, a gorgeous and tragic tale of regret and love lost, has made its long-awaited debut at the San Francisco Ballet, but you'll need to act fast to see it.

Why it matters: Choreographed by Yuri Possokhov and based on Russian author Alexander Pushkin's novel, it's widely considered one of the most emotionally complex narrative ballets of the 20th century.

State of play: The story follows Tatiana, who falls in love with the titular character Eugene Onegin, an aloof and emotionally unavailable aristocrat. She confesses her love to him in a passionate letter — only to be rejected.

• Years later, Tatiana, who is now married to a prince, becomes the object of Onegin's regretful desire.
• Though she still loves him, she chooses duty over rekindled passion, leaving Onegin to confront the consequences of his reckless pride and the love he once dismissed.

Between the lines: The $2 million production features an original score, bold costumes and a vivid set design. Its choreography also departs from John Cranko's original interpretation.

If you go: The show runs through Sunday at the War Memorial Opera House.

More details

You can bet I'll be seated for the new season of "Bridgerton" after work tonight.

Season 4 of the popular Regency-era romance drops on Netflix today.

• The second-eldest Bridgerton sibling, Benedict (Luke Thompson), gets his own love story with Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha), aka the Lady in Silver.
• This season is inspired by "An Offer from a Gentleman," the third installment in Julia Quinn's book series, and follows a renewed interest in the romance genre amid nationwide frenzy over "Heated Rivalry."

It's the first time the series delves into class divides in earnest.

• The story essentially retells Cinderella, with Sophie's cruel stepmother (played by Harry Potter's Katie Leung) and stepsisters treating her as a servant.

Yes, but: Only the first half is available. The second half comes out Feb. 26.

The intrigue: Candlelight Concerts returns to San Francisco with "Best of Bridgerton on Strings" starting next Friday.

• Here's hoping we get an encore of 2022's immersive "Bridgerton" experience, aka "The Queen's Ball," soon!

More premieres