The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially addressed Olivia Rodrigo’s sharp critiques regarding the agency’s unauthorized use of her music in a video promoting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a statement provided to Billboard on Thursday (March 19), a DHS spokesperson countered the singer’s recent British Vogue cover story, in which she characterized ICE’s tactics as “disturbing.” The department’s representative stated, “America remains perpetually grateful for the federal law enforcement officers who work to ensure our safety.”
The rebuttal continued by advising the pop star to show appreciation for the officers’ efforts. “We suggest Ms. Rodrigo thank them for their service rather than belittling their sacrifice,” the statement read. Addressing the controversial issue of family unity, the spokesperson added, “ICE does NOT separate families. Parents are presented with the choice to either keep their children with them or place them in the care of a designated guardian. This approach aligns with the immigration enforcement protocols of previous administrations.”
The friction between the Grammy-winning artist and the federal agency ignited in November, when ICE utilized Rodrigo’s track “All-American Bitch” in a video montage featuring officers forcibly detaining individuals. At the time, Rodrigo lashed out on social media, telling the agency, “don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
Reflecting on the incident months later in British Vogue, Rodrigo labeled the situation “awful” and “dystopian.” She expressed her alarm at the agency’s impact on local neighborhoods, stating, “The way that ICE is ripping apart communities and terrorizing people is so disturbing. It’s a really sad, scary time.”
Rodrigo has a history of vocalizing her opposition to aggressive immigration enforcement. Following a series of raids in Los Angeles last year, she shared her grievances on Instagram, noting she was “deeply upset” by the “violent deportations” of her neighbors. She emphasized that treating community members with “so little respect, empathy, and due process” is fundamentally wrong.
The DHS has maintained a combative stance against several high-profile critics. Earlier this year, the department dismissed Billie Eilish’s advocacy as “garbage rhetoric” after she reshared content labeling ICE a “terrorist organization.” That controversy followed the fatal shootings of civilians Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration officers in Minneapolis.
