Celebrities Who Called to Abolish ICE
The debate surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States reached a fever pitch during the late 2010s. This period saw a significant number of high-profile entertainers and artists utilizing their platforms to advocate for the dismantling of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. These public figures expressed their views through social media posts, participation in protests, and direct statements to the press. The movement to end the agency gained traction in Hollywood as reports of family separations at the border dominated the news cycle. This list details the various celebrities who explicitly voiced their support for the cause to abolish the agency.
Alyssa Milano
The actress and activist became one of the most vocal opponents of the immigration agency during the height of the family separation crisis. Milano frequently used her massive social media following to share hashtags and information regarding the movement to dismantle the organization. She participated in multiple protests and rallies where she held signs demanding the end of the agency. Her consistent advocacy kept the topic in the headlines and encouraged her fans to contact their representatives.
Mark Hamill
The legendary ‘Star Wars’ actor utilized his Twitter account to lend his support to the movement against the immigration agency. Hamill posted the specific hashtag calling for the abolition of the organization to his millions of followers. He often combined his calls for action with criticisms of the administration’s broader immigration policies. His involvement brought significant attention to the cause from the science fiction and pop culture communities.
John Legend
The EGOT winner took a firm stance on the issue by directly tweeting that the agency needed to be abolished. Legend argued that the organization had strayed from its intended purpose and was causing unnecessary harm to families. He used his platform to educate followers on the relatively short history of the agency to suggest that the country could function without it. His statement coincided with significant charitable efforts by his family to support legal funds for immigrants.
Chrissy Teigen
Teigen made headlines when she announced a massive donation to the ACLU in honor of President Trump’s birthday. She explicitly linked her activism to the outcry against the detention of immigrant families and supported the sentiment to end the enforcement agency. The model and author used her social media platforms to amplify messages from activists who were organizing on the ground. Her financial contributions and public statements served as a major boost for the movement.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
The creator of ‘Hamilton’ was a staunch advocate for immigrant rights and joined the chorus of voices criticizing the enforcement agency. Miranda used his Twitter feed to share the hashtag calling for the abolition of the organization. He frequently posted resources for his followers to help them understand the legal challenges facing immigrants. His advocacy was deeply personal and often highlighted the contributions of immigrants to American society.
Cardi B
The chart-topping rapper used her unfiltered Instagram presence to demand the immediate abolition of the agency. Cardi B posted messages expressing her horror at the images of children being separated from their parents. She stated clearly that the organization needed to go and criticized the government’s priorities. Her commentary reached a demographic that was often disengaged from traditional political discourse.
Ariana Grande
Pop superstar Ariana Grande added her voice to the movement through her social media channels. She posted stories and tweets that included the hashtag associated with the campaign to abolish the agency. Grande expressed deep empathy for the families affected by the strict enforcement policies. Her involvement helped introduce the political issue to her massive global fanbase of young people.
Susan Sarandon
The Academy Award-winning actress took her activism to the streets by participating in civil disobedience in Washington D.C. Sarandon was arrested alongside hundreds of other women while protesting the administration’s immigration policies. She publicly stated that the existence of the agency was antithetical to American values. Her willingness to be arrested highlighted the urgency she felt regarding the issue.
Cynthia Nixon
During her campaign for Governor of New York, the ‘Sex and the City’ actress made the abolition of the agency a central pillar of her platform. Nixon described the organization as a terrorist organization during a speaking engagement at a church. She argued that the agency had become a deportation force that terrorized communities rather than protecting them. Her political candidacy brought the “Abolish ICE” slogan into mainstream political debates.
Amy Schumer
Comedian and actress Amy Schumer was arrested while protesting at the Senate Hart Office Building. She joined the demonstration to rally against the separation of families and the continued operation of the immigration agency. Schumer used her Instagram to document the protest and explain her reasons for participating. She encouraged her followers to show up and voice their opposition to the government’s tactics.
Seth Rogen
The actor and filmmaker used his Twitter account to express his disgust with the reports coming from detention centers. Rogen tweeted the specific hashtag calling for the abolition of the agency to show his solidarity with the movement. He often engaged with other comedians and actors to amplify the message across the entertainment industry. His comments reflected a broader trend of comedians taking serious political stances during that era.
Judd Apatow
Director Judd Apatow became a frequent critic of the administration’s immigration policies on social media. He used his platform to share news stories and investigative reports that cast the agency in a negative light. Apatow explicitly supported the call to dismantle the organization through his online engagement. He urged his followers to remain vigilant and not to accept the new policies as normal.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey used his artistic talents to protest the actions of the immigration agency. The actor shared original political cartoons on Twitter that depicted the suffering of immigrant families and criticized the agency’s leadership. His artwork often came with captions that demanded the end of the organization. Carrey’s visual protests became viral sensations that sparked intense debate online.
Chelsea Handler
The talk show host and comedian was never shy about her political opinions and strongly supported the movement. Handler tweeted the hashtag to abolish the agency and discussed the issue on her various platforms. She focused on the humanitarian aspect of the crisis and the moral obligation to treat immigrants with dignity. Handler also participated in get-out-the-vote efforts that highlighted immigration reform.
Samantha Bee
Samantha Bee used her show ‘Full Frontal with Samantha Bee’ to deliver scathing critiques of the immigration enforcement agency. She dedicated segments to explaining why she believed the organization should be abolished. Bee combined humor with investigative journalism to expose the conditions within detention facilities. Her show became a key outlet for viewers seeking information on the movement.
Mark Ruffalo
The ‘Avengers’ actor is a well-known activist who threw his support behind the campaign to end the agency. Ruffalo shared petitions and information on how to support the families affected by deportation raids. He tweeted the hashtag calling for the abolition of the organization and attended rallies. His consistent advocacy linked the issue of immigration justice to his broader work on human rights.
Common
The rapper and actor participated in the “Families Belong Together” rallies and voiced his opposition to the enforcement agency. Common spoke passionately about the need to treat all human beings with respect and dignity. He supported the call to dismantle the structures that allowed for family separations to occur. His music and public appearances often carried messages of unity and social justice.
America Ferrera
America Ferrera was on the front lines of the protests against the administration’s zero-tolerance policy. The ‘Superstore’ actress visited the border to witness the conditions firsthand and reported back to her followers. She advocated for the dismantling of the systems that criminalized asylum seekers. Ferrera mobilized her network of Latinx artists to demand change and support the abolition movement.
Kerry Washington
The ‘Scandal’ star used her social media influence to amplify the calls to end the immigration agency. Washington shared information about the history of the organization and why activists were calling for its removal. She encouraged her fans to look beyond the headlines and understand the human cost of the policies. Her activism often intersected with her support for other civil rights organizations.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman wore her support for the movement on her sleeve, quite literally, through her social media posts. She shared the hashtag to abolish the agency and expressed her horror at the treatment of children. Portman leveraged her celebrity status to draw attention to fundraising efforts for legal aid groups. She framed the issue as a humanitarian crisis that required immediate political action.
Chance the Rapper
Chicago native Chance the Rapper tweeted a concise message supporting the abolition of the agency. He used his platform to advocate for the rights of immigrants and people of color in the United States. Chance often connected the issue of immigration enforcement to broader themes of criminal justice reform. His support resonated strongly with his younger demographic of listeners.
Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monáe tweeted the hashtag calling for the abolition of the agency during the height of the protests. The singer and actress has always been vocal about the rights of marginalized communities. She viewed the actions of the organization as a direct attack on human rights. Monáe used her visibility to ensure the message remained in the public consciousness.
Sia
The singer-songwriter Sia tweeted the hashtag #AbolishICE to her millions of followers. She joined the wave of musicians who felt compelled to speak out against the reports of family separation. Sia urged her fans to take action and support organizations fighting the detention policies. Her brief but direct statement added to the growing pressure from the music industry.
Piper Perabo
Piper Perabo was a frequent presence at protests in Washington D.C. regarding judicial and immigration issues. She tweeted her support for the abolition of the agency and risked arrest to make her point heard. Perabo used her platform to explain the specific reasons why she believed the organization was harmful to democracy. She remained a steadfast activist throughout the duration of the policy debates.
Olivia Wilde
Actress and director Olivia Wilde used her social media channels to advocate for the end of the immigration agency. She shared stories of families who had been torn apart by deportation raids. Wilde encouraged her followers to donate to legal defense funds and support legislative change. Her activism was part of a larger effort by Hollywood mothers to protect immigrant children.
Kumail Nanjiani
The ‘The Big Sick’ actor and writer used humor and personal anecdotes to criticize the immigration enforcement agency. Nanjiani tweeted his support for the movement to abolish the organization. As an immigrant himself, he offered a personal perspective on the anxieties caused by the enforcement policies. He engaged directly with detractors online to defend the position that the agency was unnecessary.
Patton Oswalt
Comedian Patton Oswalt was vocal on Twitter regarding his disdain for the tactics used by the agency. He supported the call to abolish the organization and shared articles detailing its controversies. Oswalt often used sarcasm to highlight the absurdity and cruelty of the zero-tolerance policies. He amplified the voices of journalists and lawyers who were documenting the crisis at the border.
Lena Dunham
The ‘Girls’ creator used her Instagram account to post about the movement to dismantle the agency. Dunham shared graphics and information that explained what “Abolish ICE” meant in a policy context. She urged her followers to get involved in local protests and contact their elected officials. Her posts often focused on the intersection of immigration rights and feminism.
Amber Heard
Amber Heard joined protests near the border and in Washington D.C. to oppose the administration’s immigration policies. She carried signs and posted messages calling for the abolition of the agency. Heard spoke about the need for compassion and the violation of human rights occurring in detention centers. She used her visibility to keep the media focused on the plight of asylum seekers.
Rowan Blanchard
The young ‘Girl Meets World’ actress established herself as a fierce activist for human rights. Blanchard posted repeatedly about the need to abolish the immigration agency. She shared educational resources with her young fanbase to explain the political situation. Her advocacy demonstrated the strong engagement of Generation Z in the movement.
Indya Moore
The ‘Pose’ star was a relentless advocate for the rights of trans and queer immigrants. Moore frequently tweeted and posted about the necessity of abolishing the agency to protect vulnerable populations. They organized fundraising efforts to support LGBTQ immigrants in detention. Moore’s activism highlighted the specific dangers faced by marginalized groups within the immigration system.
Kendrick Sampson
Kendrick Sampson is a dedicated activist who has organized numerous protests in Los Angeles. He was a vocal proponent of abolishing the immigration agency and reforming the entire justice system. Sampson used his platform to organize direct actions and educate his peers in the industry. He consistently pushed for radical change rather than minor reforms.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox used her voice to speak out against the detention and mistreatment of immigrants. She supported the calls to abolish the agency, particularly highlighting the abuse of trans women in custody. Cox shared personal stories and news reports to shed light on the crisis. She urged her followers to support organizations providing legal aid to detainees.
Lauren Jauregui
The former Fifth Harmony member was one of the most outspoken young celebrities on the topic. Jauregui wrote open letters and posted constantly about the need to abolish the agency. She debated with followers and critics to defend her position on human rights. Her Cuban-American heritage informed her passionate defense of asylum seekers.
T.I.
Rapper T.I. joined the conversation by posting messages that criticized the immigration enforcement agency. He supported the idea that the organization should be dismantled due to its treatment of families. T.I. used his music and social media to address various social justice issues affecting minority communities. He encouraged his fans to stay informed and politically active.
Questlove
The focus of The Roots and ‘The Tonight Show’ bandleader supported the movement through social media. Questlove shared the hashtag to abolish the agency and amplified the messages of other activists. He used his platform to curate information and share it with a wide audience. His endorsement added significant cultural weight to the campaign.
Michael Stipe
The R.E.M. frontman emerged from a relatively quiet period to support the protests. Stipe released a video message singing a short song that included the lyrics “Abolish ICE”. He encouraged his fans to pay attention to the crisis and take action. His artistic statement was shared widely among music fans and activists.
Danny DeVito
The beloved actor used his verified Twitter account to send a short but clear message. DeVito tweeted the hashtag #AbolishICE to express his solidarity with the movement. He often used his platform to support progressive causes and labor rights. His tweet was retweeted thousands of times by supporters of the cause.
Peter Fonda
Before his passing, the ‘Easy Rider’ star sent out furious tweets condemning the administration and the agency. Fonda called for the abolition of the organization in no uncertain terms. His comments were highly controversial and sparked a major backlash from supporters of the agency. However, he refused to back down from his stance that the family separations were immoral.
Dua Lipa
The British pop star showed her solidarity with American activists by sharing “Abolish ICE” content on her Instagram. Lipa reposted graphics and information to raise awareness among her international fanbase. She expressed heartbreak over the images of children in detention centers. Her involvement showed that the issue had garnered global attention.
Please share your thoughts on these celebrity stances in the comments.