DHS slams ‘gross’ violence-pushing ICE rhetoric at Grammys
The Department of Homeland Security on Monday shot back at criticism of immigration enforcement from celebrity artists at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
“It’s gross Hollywood would choose to demonize our law enforcement as they are putting their lives on the line to arrest murderers, pedophiles, rapists, kidnappers, and robbers from our communities,” Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told The Daily Signal.
The 68th annual Grammy Awards ceremony took on a political tone Sunday night as celebrities like Justin Bieber and Kehlani protested Immigration and Customs Enforcement by sporting “ICE Out” pins on the red carpet. Rapper Bad Bunny repeated the sentiment on stage.
“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out,” Bad Bunny, who’s real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, said while accepting the award for Best Música Urbana Album. “We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens, we are humans, and we are Americans,” the Grammy winner, who is from Puerto Rico, added to a loud applause.
Bad Bunny also won Album of the Year at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles and is scheduled to headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 8.
Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish won Song of the Year and also used her acceptance speech to speak out against immigration enforcement.
“Nobody is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said, adding, “F— ICE.”
In response, McLaughlin said, “This type of garbage is contributing to our officers facing a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks, 1,300% increase in assaults against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.”
The criticism comes after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, on Jan. 24, and an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, also 37, on Jan. 7 amid anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis. Both incidents are under investigation.
Despite opposition, DHS continued its operation in Minneapolis over the weekend.
“While Hollywood celebrities embarrassed themselves trying to drum up hatred of ICE officers from the Grammys, DHS law enforcement was hard at work arresting sex offenders, child abusers, and criminals convicted of assault in Minnesota,” McLaughlin said.
Recent ICE arrests in Minneapolis include Vong Som, Houa Xiong, Ze Ger Vue, Lor Thor, and Fong Vang—all illegal aliens from Laos with criminal convictions that include terror threats, sexual assault, obstructing police, weapons possession, and receiving stolen property.
ICE also arrested Charanjit Singh, who is from India and has been convicted of cruelty toward a child, drug possession, and flight to avoid prosecution.
Guatemalan Baltazar Camposeco-Ros has a criminal record that includes domestic assault and a domestic abuse violation.
Minh Tien Quach is from Vietnam and has been convicted of robbery, possession of a firearm, and drug trafficking. Ernesto Alexander Dominguez-Cruz is from El Salvador and has been convicted of multiple crimes, including assault.
“We need Minnesota sanctuary politicians to let us into their jails to arrest these vicious criminals instead of releasing them and allowing them to create more victims,” McLaughlin said, adding that DHS has filed over 1,360 detainers for “criminals in Minnesota jails.”
“We are once again calling on Minnesota’s sanctuary politicians to commit to turning these criminals over to ICE,” she continued.
Minnesota is a sanctuary state, according to the Department of Justice, meaning state and local law enforcement are restricted in the extent they can cooperate with federal immigration officials.
The Minnesota state prison system does honor ICE detainers, according to border czar Tom Homan.
Homan met with Minneapolis Attorney General Keith Ellison last week and Ellison, according to Homan, says county jails are allowed to “notify ICE of the release dates of criminal public safety risks, so ICE can take custody of them upon the release from the jail.”
Homan says a reduction of federal immigration officials in Minneapolis is dependent upon state and local officials cooperating with ICE.
[Editor’s note: This story originally was published by The Daily Signal.]