February 3, 2026 | 06:39 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The prestigious 2026 Grammy Awards, held on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, served not only as a celebration of the achievements of global musicians but also as a platform for protest against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Several musicians used their victories to call for "ICE Out," a harsh critique of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has increasingly come under public criticism for its aggressive actions.
Bad Bunny and the "ICE Out" Call on the 2026 Grammy Awards Stage
As reported by Variety and People, one of the most stunning moments of the night came from Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican rapper who won the Grammy for Best Urban Music Album with "DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS." Upon taking the stage, he began his speech with the call, "ICE Out," which was met with a standing ovation from the audience. "we’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans," he said, calling for a response to hatred with love.
Bad Bunny has been vocal in his criticism of ICE brutality. The 31-year-old rapper previously stated that he deliberately avoided performing in the United States during his tour due to fear of ICE raids. Bad Bunny has now become the target of criticism from Trump and his supporters following his announcement as the headliner for the upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Bad Bunny's call mirrored a broader movement at the Grammys that night. Several artists wore "ICE Out" pins on the red carpet and during the ceremony, including Billie Eilish, Kehlani, Justin and Hailey Bieber, and other musicians, showing solidarity with immigrants.
The protests against ICE brutality followed the killing of two US citizens. On January 7, 2026, ICE officer Jonathan Ross killed Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On January 24, 2026, also in Minneapolis, nurse Alex Pretti, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employee, was shot multiple times and killed by ICE officers.
Other Artists Speak Out: Billie Eilish, Kehlani, and Bon Iver
In addition to Bad Bunny, several Grammy winners also used their time to address immigration issues. According to AP News, Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year for “Wildflower,” said in her acceptance speech, “No one is illegal on stolen land,” and called for continued resistance and speaking out before launching into censored criticism of ICE. Eilish and her brother and collaborator, Finneas O’Connell, also wore protest pins on stage, according to USA Today.
Meanwhile, singer Kehlani used her acceptance speech for the Best R&B Performance Grammy to openly condemn ICE and encourage the artist community to speak out against injustice. “I really wanted to say f*ck ICE,” Kehlani told The Hollywood Reporter on the red carpet after making the same statement during her acceptance speech.
Furthermore, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver revealed to Variety that he wore a whistle pin as a symbol of support for bystanders in Minneapolis who had been blowing whistles for weeks to warn residents when ICE agents arrived and attempted to protect their community. He described his presence at the Grammys that night as a tribute to those who fought.
Grammys as a Stage for Activism
The Grammys' tradition as a platform for musical achievement seemed to transform into an arena for political expression that night, as several artists combined awards with social messages. Protests against the Trump administration's policies, particularly ICE operations targeting immigrant communities, were a key theme echoing throughout the speeches and symbols worn by the nominees and winners.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the "ICE OUT" and "BE GOOD" pins were part of a joint campaign initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union, Maremoto, the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Working Families Power. The campaign began at the Golden Globes on January 11 and has since expanded as public attention has grown on immigration enforcement.
The idea for the pins emerged just 36 hours before the Golden Globes. Nelini Stamp, Strategy Director at Working Families Power, explained that following Good's shooting, the activist group leveraged its connections in Hollywood, including celebrities including Mark Ruffalo, Ariana Grande, and Jean Smart, who wore it at events.
The campaign continued at the Sundance Film Festival, various award shows, and finally the Grammys, which have been a key focus from the beginning because music is seen as a medium for social resistance. According to Stamp, musicians have “have been at the forefront in entertainment” in voicing criticism of immigration policies, particularly during Trump’s second term.
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Read: Olivia Dean Wins First Grammy as Best New Artist
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