Grammy Award / Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grammy-award_silhouette.jpg, photo.Graph+sasThis year's Grammy Gala went into past not only thanks to records and spectacular performances. Words came out of the scene that caused social unrest, and the subject “ICE out” became a symbol of opposition to immigration services. The artists utilized their 5 minutes to talk on a case that divides America. Can a musical gala become an arena for political combat?
Art will never be free from politics. The event, which all year focuses the world's attention on music and most crucial artistic achievements, has besides become an area of clear opposition to American immigration services. From the phase came the slogan “ICE out”, which rapidly became a symbol of the criticism of migration policy conducted by the national authorities. The performances of artists were not random. They referred straight to current events, an expanding number of deportations and controversy related to the activities of ICE officers. As a result, the gala ceased to be just a ceremony of awards and became part of a wider public debate. She thus confirmed that creativity and the space of culture do not function in isolation from social and political reality, but constantly enter into dialog with it.
The service that divides America, what is ICE?
ICE, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Forcement (American Customs and Immigration Office) is simply a national law enforcement agency under the authority of the United States Department of National Security. It was established by the Homeland safety Act of 2002, adopted after muslim terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Its main task is to defend national safety by combating cross-border crime and enforcing immigration rules.
The structure of the ICE includes 2 key components: Homeland safety Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). They act as 2 independent law enforcement agencies. HSI focuses on combating transnational crime, and the ERO is liable for detaining, holding and deporting US residents without regulated immigration status.
According to authoritative data, ICE has over 22,000 employees. individuals, and agency offices operate throughout the United States and selected countries worldwide. Officers may detain and arrest persons suspected of illegal residence. In certain situations, for example in the event of obstruction of service, they may besides detain a U.S. citizen. However, entering a private property requires a written court order.
Why did ICE start getting loud?
Significant controversy surrounding ICE's actions intensified during Donald Trump's second term, erstwhile immigration policy was clearly tightened. In 2025, under the 1 large Beautiful Act, the budget of the ICE agency was increased to $75 billion, previously it was around $10 billion. 1 of Trump's pre-election promises was besides a crucial increase in the number of officers, and recruitment was considerably simplified. fresh candidates undergo a 47-day course in immigration law, arms handling and fitness tests. The request of cognition of the languages utilized by immigrants has besides been abolished and the recruitment process has been simplified to a minimum, only basic information and a fewer minutes of interview are needed.
The January 2026 Communication reported that over 675 1000 had been deported in the last 12 months. people, and over 2.2 million left the country voluntarily. By mid-January 2026, around 73,000 people were in ICE centres, a evidence number in the agency's history.
American Dream under the dictatorship of service
Unfortunately, the reality for many people looks completely different. Officers enter private property, pull people out of homes, and keep people on the streets, whether there is any suspicion or not. There are besides children among the detainees.
In January 2026, ICE agents detained a five-year-old boy returning home with his father, placing them subsequently at a detention facility in Texas. The case sparked a wave of outrage in social media and local environments. 2 loud shootings from early 2026 became a turning point for public opinion, especially in Minneapolis.
Renee Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen and parent of 3 children, was shot in the street by an ICE officer. Information provided by the city police indicated that a female was blocking the street by car. According to an agent's account, erstwhile they tried to approach her, she was expected to effort to drive away, and 1 of the officers repeatedly shot her “in fear of her own life and the safety of others”, claiming that she utilized the vehicle as a weapon. This version of events was challenged by the mayor of Minneapolis, identifying the situation as a reckless abuse of power, and calling on national services to leave the city immediately.
The second incidental besides occurred in Minneapolis. ICE agent shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen who worked as a caregiver in the ICU. Homeland safety reported that the officer acted in self-defense, claiming that the man had a gun. Recordings from the scene, according to witness reports, however, are to indicate that at the time of the shooting Pretti no longer had a weapon on him, as it was taken from him earlier. The case sparked another wave of protests and calls for the national services to retreat from the city.
Citizens criticise the ICE's actions, claiming that officers are not liable for their actions, which is explained by the broad powers and legal protection of national services. The problem is besides the recognition of agents who frequently operate in civilian clothes, masks and decision unmarked vehicles. Already last year, prosecutors have demanded the introduction of an work to wear visible identifiers and a ban on face blocking during intervention.
According to the BBC, in the first 9 months of Donald Trump's presidency there have been about 170 cases of national agents holding US citizens against their will. These included Americans who were suspected of being illegal immigrants. About 2,000 ICE agents were sent to Minneapolis. CBS News reports that there are presently around 3 1000 ICE agents and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the city, 5 times as many as the full Minneapolis Police Department, with about 600 officers.
The evening that became a protest
On the night of 1 on 2 February, another Grammy Awards gala was held – 1 of the most crucial events in the planet of music, during which the most outstanding artistic achievements are honoured each year. The first statues were awarded in 1959, and the ceremony in decades combines prestige with the performances of esteemed stars. The 4 most crucial categories referred to as “general area” include the album of the year, the recording of the year, the song of the year and the best fresh artist. This year, however, the gala took on a much more serious character. any artists decided to usage the scene as a space of opposition to government policy while defending immigrant communities. Donald Trump's deportation policy was peculiarly harshly criticized and the last loud interventions by officers resulting in 2 deaths.
It was the winners of the general category who were most eager to speak. Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, receiving the award for the album of the year, began his speech with the words: “Before I thank God, I will say “ICE out”. We're not savages, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are people and we are Americans.” It was a historical moment, due to the fact that for the first time the album in Spanish was victorious in this category. During this speech, the slogan came out again during his Super Bowl performance: “The only thing stronger than hatred is love.” The artist's speech was criticized by Donald Trump, who called him “an insult to the greatness of America” and “a terrible and 1 of the worst ever!”.
Billie Eilish besides expressed her opposition during the Grammy. Receipting the prize in the song of the year category, she stressed: “No 1 is illegal on stolen land” and then straight addressed the ICE, condemning their actions. She besides called for unity and active citizenship – protests and open opposition to migration policy. “Our voices truly substance and people are crucial [...] That's all I gotta say. I'm sorry. Thank you very much.”
The award for the best fresh artist was given to Olivia Dean, who in her speech referred to her individual household history: “I am here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I am the fruit of courage, and I think these people deserve recognition. Without each another we are nothing.”
However, protests were not limited to speeches. On the red carpet, Jason Isbell, Margo Price, Kehlani and Rhiannon Giddens expressed their opposition to ICE's actions. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver's band had a whistle on him, which clearly referred to those documenting the officers' actions in Minneapolis and was expected to be a symbolic tribute to their courage. Many of the participants of the galas were united with immigrants, wearing white pins with the black inscription "ICE OUT", including Carole King and Hailey and Justin Bieber.
Grammys 2026 have proven that the red carpet does not always lead solely to light, shine and emotion. This time the spotlights lit not only triumphs, but besides tensions that divide America for months. alternatively of standard thanks, strong statements were made, and the scene, usually the space of celebration, turned into a platform of opposition, reflecting the emotions that are snoring present on the streets of Minneapolis, fresh York and Los Angeles. The slogan "ICE out" was not just a slogan, it became a resounding echo of anger and solidarity towards the actions of the national services that have sparked a wave of controversy and protests in the US in fresh months. For any it was an act of courage, for others it crossed the line of political expression. 1 thing remains unquestionable – art and politics have always been closely linked. Grammys recalled that art can not only play and inspire, but in times of sharp divisions, it turns into a field of debate about what America is today.
Emilia KRUKOWSKA
