“We are Humans, and We are Americans.”
Some celebrities are using their platforms to speak out against ICE. Photo courtesy of Bike Portland via Flickr
As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) presence intensifies across the country, several celebrities have taken action, sharing public statements criticizing ICE and calling attention to immigration policy. Many celebrities have expressed their opposition to both ICE and President Donald Trump, urging others to speak out and get involved as well.
These actions have prompted widespread discussion online. While the ICE agency has said its operations are focused on enforcing federal immigration law, their actions have drawn criticism from large populations of citizens.
At the 2026 Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, Puerto Rican singer and rapper Bad Bunny criticized recent enforcement actions, saying, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out!”
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans,” he said.
During his recent performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, the jumbotron in Levi’s Stadium displayed the message, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” which could be interpreted as a commentary on the political state of deportation.
At the Grammys, numerous musicians, including Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish, Kehlani and Joni Mitchell, adorned pins that read “ICE out” on the red carpet and during the awards ceremony.
“It’s very ironic and frankly sad to see celebrities who live in gated communities with private security, with millions of dollars to spend protecting themselves, trying to just demonize, again, law enforcement, public servants who work for the United States government to enforce our nation’s laws,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Her statement mirrors the stances of other White House officials, highlighting the divide between administration officials and public figures over the role of celebrity influence in political discourse and law enforcement policy.
Joining Bad Bunny is Filipino-American singer-songwriter and actress Olivia Rodrigo. The “GUTS” singer used her Instagram stories to question recent immigration enforcement actions, describing them as “unconscionable” and saying that individuals are not powerless to respond.
Rodrigo wrote that “our actions matter” and added that she “stand[s] with Minnesota,” referencing the ongoing public attention to enforcement operations in the state.
American singer-songwriter and guitarist Bruce Springsteen has taken a slightly different approach. On Jan. 28, the “Born in the U.S.A.” singer released a single titled “Streets of Minneapolis,” a protest song commenting on the active involvement of ICE in Minneapolis.
The release follows the deaths of Minneapolis residents Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, who were killed by ICE officials this past month. Springsteen has labeled his single a “response to the state terror being visited on the city,” stating the song was created in just two days for “the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
Some of his lyrics read, “Against smoke and rubber bullets, in the dawn's early light // Citizens stood for justice, their voices ringing through the night.”
With so many eyes on their moves in the spotlight, celebrity opinions and actions have the potential for large-scale impact among not only supporters but the general American public.
With the increase in the phenomenon of “cancel culture” and a shifting view on the responsibilities of celebrities, many view the outspoken actions of such public individuals as crucial to striking support for anti-ICE protests and pushback.
But some have differing opinions, like Ingrid Jacques, a columnist at USA Today, who wrote a direct statement to politically outspoken celebrities like Bad Bunny.
“You are famous because of your talents as musicians, not because of your idiotic views on politics and President Donald Trump,” Jacques said.
While many stand divided over both ICE and the involvement of celebrities in political matters, the participation of celebrities in political discourse has continuously shaped the ongoing conversation around immigration and the questionable actions of ICE.
This conversation does not seem to be slowing down any time soon, as ICE plans to upgrade its bed capacity to 92,600 beds, as well as appointing 12,000 new law enforcement officers to join their enforcement, as per the ICE Detention Reengineering Initiative.
Whether viewed as advocacy or overreach, these public statements reflect a growing intersection between entertainment, politics and social activism in the heated current political climate.