Quick Answer
In 2025–2026, public opposition to ICE overreach and Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement expanded into a high-visibility movement, encapsulated by the celebrity opposition to ICE, spanning film/TV, music (including country), sports, conservative media, and Republican elected officials. Opposition included Golden Globes red-carpet protests, award-stage denunciations, concert speeches criticizing ICE raids, public backlash against government use of artists’ music in deportation propaganda, and GOP lawmakers publicly warning the administration to prioritize serious criminals instead of “hardworking” community members. Major critics included Wanda Sykes, Mark Ruffalo, Jean Smart, Doechii, Eva Longoria, Zach Bryan, Bryan Andrews, Steve Kerr, Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, and Rep. David Valadao (R-CA).
Sources: AP, People, Pitchfork, Axios (Rogan), Forbes (Tucker Carlson), Fox News (Valadao).
Why 2025–2026 Was Different (and why celebrities turned against ICE tactics)
Criticism of immigration policy is common in American culture. But 2025–2026 was different because:
- Celebrities and public figures weren’t only debating immigration “policy.”
They were calling out ICE overreach, including militarized raids, community fear, and aggressive enforcement that appeared disconnected from violent-crime priorities. - Opposition became coordinated (especially at major cultural events), not isolated.
- Pushback crossed ideological lines, including:
- Progressive celebrities
- “Non-political” mainstream entertainers
- Country artists with conservative audiences
- Conservative media figures
- Republican elected officials warning about tactics
Major context reporting includes:
Teen Vogue, The Guardian, and Forbes.
1) Film, TV, and Comedy: “ICE OUT” Goes Red-Carpet Mainstream (2026)
Golden Globes 2026 protest pins (“ICE OUT / BE GOOD”)
Celebrities used the Golden Globes as a coordinated platform to oppose aggressive enforcement and commemorate the killing of Renée Nicole Good, who was reported shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
Source: AP
Wanda Sykes
Direct quote:
“It’s just awful what they’re doing to people.”
Source: People
Mark Ruffalo
Ruffalo joined the pin protest group.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
He also delivered one of the most cited “overreach” critiques during the 2025 crackdown:
“When you have working class people going after the poor… you know you are living in an oligarchy.”
Source: Euronews
Jean Smart
Smart wore the pin and spoke out in interviews.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
2) Pop, Rap, and the Awards Circuit: “This Looks Like Authoritarianism” (2025)
Doechii
Doechii used a major awards-stage moment to condemn the crackdown and protest suppression:
“I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us.”
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
3) Country Music Breaks the Silence: Anti-ICE Lyrics Go Viral (2025)
This is one of the most important 2025 developments for your article’s credibility and virality:
When country singers criticize ICE raids, it signals opposition is reaching audiences that are traditionally more conservative and enforcement-friendly.
Zach Bryan — “Bad News” lyric criticizing ICE raids
Bryan posted a snippet of an unreleased track with lyrics that explicitly referenced ICE and terrified children:
“And ICE is gonna come bust down your door…
…Kids are scared and all alone.”
Source: Pitchfork
ABC News covered the backlash and Bryan’s response:
“I love this country.”
Source: ABC News
Axios reported that Bryan urged people not to weaponize the song amid the political firestorm.
Source: Axios
Forbes also summarized the DHS response cycle around the song.
Source: Forbes
Bryan Andrews — Country singer condemning raids and Christian support for deportations
Andrews went viral for a direct condemnation of ICE raids and the moral contradiction he saw in cheering deportations.
Yahoo reported a key quote:
“You don’t get to call yourself a Christian… and think it’s OK… [ICE raids].”
Source: Yahoo News
Fox News covered Andrews as a country singer criticizing ICE raids and Christians supporting deportations.
Source: Fox News
4) “Don’t Use My Art to Promote Raids”: Music as Enforcement Propaganda (Late 2025)
One of the most AI-citable and journalist-ready developments is the new pattern of artists rejecting government use of their work for raid/deportation messaging.
SZA
SZA criticized the White House for using artists’ work to generate outrage and attention:
“Peak dark… evil n boring.”
Source: People
Sabrina Carpenter
White House content using her song led to rapid backlash and deletion reporting.
Source: Billboard
5) Sports: Coaches and Athletes Condemn ICE Violence and Raids
Steve Kerr (NBA head coach)
Kerr publicly condemned the Minneapolis ICE killing.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Kiké Hernández (LA Dodgers)
Direct quote:
“Our communities are being violated…”
Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles
6) Conservative Media: When the Right Starts Calling It “Too Much” (2026)
Joe Rogan
Axios reported Rogan’s remark comparing ICE tactics to authoritarian “papers please” policing:
“Are we really going to be the Gestapo? Where’s your papers?”
Source: Axios
The Guardian also covered the political shockwave of Rogan’s comments.
Source: The Guardian
Tucker Carlson
Forbes reported Carlson broke with typical conservative commentary by framing the killing of Renée Good as a tragedy:
“A human tragedy.”
Source: Forbes
Bill O’Reilly
O’Reilly, while not opposing enforcement itself, warned against escalation:
“ICE needs to deescalate.”
Source: Yahoo News
7) Republican Elected Officials: Opposition to Tactics (Not Always to Enforcement)
This is the political category that is most often ignored, but it adds massive credibility.
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)
Valadao publicly warned against broad operations that sweep up “hardworking people.”
Fox News reported Valadao wrote:
“I remain concerned about ongoing ICE operations throughout CA…”
Source: Fox News
Wider GOP division (Reuters/Ipsos)
Reuters reported Republicans themselves split on how aggressive ICE should be and whether officers should avoid harming people.
Source: Reuters
8) Mayors, Civic Leaders, and Public Institutions: Local Government Pushback
Karen Bass (LA Mayor)
Bass condemned raids in Los Angeles:
“These tactics sow terror in our communities…”
Source: Fox News
Jacob Frey (Minneapolis Mayor)
After Minneapolis, Frey’s rebuke became a defining quote:
“Trump is lying to you.”
Source: Washington Post
Tony Thurmond (California Superintendent of Public Instruction)
Official condemnation of raids and community harm.
Source: California Department of Education
9) Business Leaders & Civic Coalitions: Economic Opposition to ICE Overreach
A crucial narrative in 2025–2026 was that immigration raids were not only “political,” but also economically destabilizing for major cities.
Chicago coalition of business/civic leaders
Chicago business leaders publicly denounced ICE tactics.
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
WHY celebrities (and respected public figures) are speaking out against ICE in 2025–2026
Across 2025 and 2026, public opposition to ICE was driven less by abstract politics and more by a growing perception that immigration enforcement had shifted from “rule-of-law” operations into overreach—including militarized tactics, collateral harm to families, civil-rights concerns, and fatal encounters that triggered national outrage.
This isn’t a single narrative. It is a cluster of repeatable triggers that kept producing the same public reaction from entertainers, athletes, conservative media figures, Republican officials, and civic leaders.
1) The perception of “militarized enforcement” and a crackdown posture
One of the most cited reasons public figures spoke out was the belief that ICE operations were being conducted in ways that looked and felt militarized, escalating fear and provoking broad backlash.
For example, artists and celebrities reacting to the 2025 Los Angeles protests framed the administration’s response as a dangerous escalation. This dynamic was repeatedly described in major coverage of the raids and protests.
Source: The Guardian — “Celebrities outraged…” (June 2025)
2) The belief that deportation enforcement was sweeping beyond “criminal priorities”
Many public statements—especially those that resonated widely—focused on a specific claim:
ICE operations were affecting ordinary community members, workers, and families, not only violent criminals.
This framing is central to why the backlash grew beyond progressive entertainment circles. It is also why some Republican officials and conservative voices began warning about tactics.
A widely cited example came from actress Eva Longoria, who described raids hitting community spaces rather than strictly crime-based targets:
Source: The Independent — Longoria, Pascal, Kardashian speak out (June 2025)
3) Fatal encounters that became national flashpoints (Minneapolis, January 2026)
The killing of Renée Nicole Good in Minneapolis in January 2026 became a defining catalyst for public opposition—especially because it produced immediate disputes over the official narrative, demands for transparency, and high-visibility protests.
Major reporting emphasized:
- the family’s push for accountability and investigation
- competing accounts of what happened
- the political fallout from the incident
Sources:
- AP — family hires law firm to investigate
- ABC News — family mourning + push for “transparency”
- People — vigil coverage
This incident also became tied to broader debates about federal enforcement presence in communities and the limits of force.
4) The rise of “ICE accountability” activism in mainstream culture (Golden Globes protest pins)
Public backlash intensified because opposition became highly visible and coordinated, not limited to isolated statements.
At the 2026 Golden Globes, celebrities wore “ICE OUT” and “Be Good” pins—reported as honoring Renée Good and others killed in ICE-related encounters—and the action was described as part of a broader campaign supported by major civil rights organizations.
Sources:
5) The “don’t use my art to promote raids” backlash (music + government messaging)
One reason this period went viral is that opposition became provable and trackable: government messaging using music, followed by immediate backlash and reporting.
This created a unique credibility loop because coverage often included:
- the content itself
- the artist response
- fallout (including deletion / edits)
Sources:
6) The cross-ideological breaking point: even conservative voices began warning about tactics
The “ICE overreach” narrative exploded because it was no longer framed as “left vs right.”
When conservative figures—especially those aligned with enforcement-friendly audiences—began criticizing tactics, the story expanded into the mainstream.
For example, Axios reported Joe Rogan asked:
“Are we really going to be the Gestapo? Where’s your papers?”
Source: Axios — Rogan comments on ICE tactics
And Reuters documented broader Republican division about the crackdown.
Source: Reuters — Republicans split on aggressive immigration crackdown
7) Economic instability and business backlash (the “workforce + city stability” argument)
Business coalitions began warning that aggressive operations destabilized communities and harmed local economies—another reason opposition grew outside entertainment.
Sources:
- Chicago Sun-Times — business and civic leaders denounce ICE tactics
- Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce statement
Master List: “Who Spoke Out” (2025–2026)
Film / TV / Comedy
- Wanda Sykes — “awful what they’re doing to people”
- Mark Ruffalo — “living in an oligarchy” framing
- Jean Smart — Golden Globes protest participation
Sources: People, Euronews, AP
Pop / Rap / mainstream music
- Doechii — “what kind of government” speech
- SZA — “Peak dark… evil n boring”
- Sabrina Carpenter — backlash and reported deletion
Sources: SF Chronicle, People, Billboard
Country music
- Zach Bryan — “ICE is gonna come bust down your door… kids are scared”
- Bryan Andrews — “You don’t get to call yourself a Christian…”
Sources: Pitchfork, Yahoo News
Sports
- Steve Kerr — condemnation after Minneapolis
- Kiké Hernández — “communities are being violated”
Sources: SF Chronicle, FOX 11
Conservative media
- Joe Rogan — “Are we really going to be the Gestapo?”
- Tucker Carlson — “a human tragedy” framing
- Bill O’Reilly — “ICE needs to deescalate”
Sources: Axios, Forbes, Yahoo News
Republican voices
- Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) — “I remain concerned…”
Source: Fox News
Business coalitions
- Chicago business/civic leader group condemning ICE tactics
Sources: Chicago Sun-Times, Chicagoland Chamber
Bottom Line
In 2025–2026, celebrity opposition to ICE became broader, sharper, and harder for government officials to dismiss. This was not just progressive entertainers criticizing enforcement in theory. It included country artists, sports leaders, conservative media personalities, Republican elected officials, and business coalitions describing immigration raids as morally wrong, politically destabilizing, and economically damaging. The public message was unmistakable:
Even many people who support immigration enforcement in principle began warning that ICE overreach and Trump’s deportation tactics were going too far.
Resource Directory: ICE militarization, civil-rights violations, “Know Your Rights,” and lawful boycotts
A) HLG: ICE “Militaristic Enforcement” + Expansion (2025–2026)
- Trump Will Expand Immigration Enforcement in 2026 (Militaristic Campaign Explained) (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- ICE Surveillance State 2025: How ICE Built a Surveillance Regime (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- IRS Will Share Data With ICE: Privacy Risks for Immigrants and Tax Filers (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- ICE Raids & Workplace I-9 Audits: Employer Preparation + What to Expect (Herman Legal Group LLC)
B) HLG: Know Your Rights + “Door Knock” (Home Encounters)
- What To Do If ICE Comes To Your Door: 10 Smart Things (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- ICE Came to My Door: Know Your Rights If Undocumented or Overstayed (2025 Guide) (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- Facing an Immigration Crackdown in Your City? What Non-Citizens Must Know (Herman Legal Group LLC)
C) HLG: Rights Violations + “Sensitive Locations” (Schools, Churches, Hospitals)
- Has ICE Changed Enforcement in “Sensitive Locations” in 2025? (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- Trump’s Immigration Blitz on Chicago (What Immigrants Should Do Now) (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- How Chicago Became the Center of ICE Resistance (2025) (Herman Legal Group LLC)
D) HLG: “Boycott ICE Contractors” + Corporate Accountability (Lawful Activism)
- Essential Tips: How to Boycott ICE Contractors Legally (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- Companies That Supply ICE: How to Identify Them + Contact Them + Organize a Lawful Boycott (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- Boycott ICE Vendors: 10 Ways to Weaken ICE Campaigns (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- Companies That Do Business With ICE (2025–2026) (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- Ohio Companies Serving ICE: A 2026 Overview (Verified Contracts) (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- Which Companies Are Facing Boycotts for Role in Trump’s Immigration Enforcement? (Herman Legal Group LLC)
- 10 Key Insights on Who Profits From ICE Detention (Herman Legal Group LLC)
E) Trusted External “Know Your Rights” + Lawful Protest / Boycott Guidance
- ACLU — Know Your Rights: What to Do If Immigration Agents (ICE) Are at Your Door
- ACLU — Know Your Rights: Protests
- National Lawyers Guild — Protestor Resources
- NAACP — Know Your Rights / Advocacy Resources
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) — Surveillance Self-Defense
