As tensions rise across Los Angeles over the Donald Trump administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement efforts, a growing chorus of celebrities has spoken out against what many are calling a human rights crisis.
From red carpets to Instagram stories to joining on-road protests, prominent figures in entertainment are lending their voices to the mounting criticism of President Trump’s mass deportation strategy and the controversial deployment of the US National Guard and Marine units across California’s most populous city.
The spark for this nationwide backlash was the latest wave of immigration raids led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following Trump’s directive to fulfill his administration’s campaign pledge of removing 1 million undocumented immigrants annually. The aggressive approach culminated earlier this month with scenes of federal agents arresting individuals across L.A. neighborhoods, often without public notice or clarity on due process.
What followed were large-scale protests throughout the city. While the Los Angeles Police Department described the demonstrations as largely peaceful, Trump invoked federal authority to deploy more than 2,800 troops — including National Guard members and U.S. Marines — under what was described as “Task Force 51,” a military unit designed to maintain “continuous coverage of the area” as unrest in LA continues.
This move, however, drew legal and political pushback. California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling the deployment “unlawful” and accusing the President of “manufacturing a crisis” to exert control over the state’s militia forces. “Donald Trump is creating fear and terror by failing to adhere to the U.S. Constitution and overstepping his authority,” Newsom said. “This is a manufactured crisis to allow him to take over a state militia, damaging the very foundation of our republic.”
Public outcry quickly echoed beyond the legal sphere, with high-profile artists, actors, and musicians condemning the administration’s actions. Actress Eva Longoria described the government’s tactics as “un-American,” while actor Mark Ruffalo’s viral Instagram post labeled Trump a “grifter” and slammed the deployment of military force against civilians.
“The billionaire up at the top is stealing you blind, and you are worried about the poorest of the poor ruining your life? You are pointing your guns in the wrong direction,” Ruffalo wrote in a lengthy post, earning support from fellow celebrities Jennifer Garner and Halle Berry.
Musician Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day weighed in with an explicit Instagram post with a middle finger emoji, while rapper Tyler, the Creator shared a blunt “F*CK ICE” message on his story. Singer Reneé Rapp followed suit, writing: “Fck ICE, fck this administration, f*ck all of y’all who are complicit.”
Finneas, the Grammy-winning producer and brother of Billie Eilish, reported being tear-gassed at a “very peaceful protest” downtown. He also reposted footage of an Australian journalist being struck with a rubber bullet in the leg while reporting on the scene. “They’re inciting this,” he wrote, accusing federal authorities of escalating a non-violent demonstration.
The sentiment extended to the BET Awards 2025 stage, where rapper Doechii paused her acceptance speech to directly call out the military presence outside the venue. “There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,” she said.
“Trump is using military forces to stop a protest… What type of government is that?” “I want you 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,” Doechii added.
Pop icon Shakira, in an emotional interview with the BBC, reflected on her own experience immigrating to the U.S. at 19. “It means living in constant fear,” she said of the current climate.
“Now, more than ever, we have to raise our voices and make it very clear that a country can change its immigration policies, but the treatment of all people must always be humane.” Earlier this year, the Colombian star dedicated her Grammy Award “to all my immigrant brothers and sisters,” a sentiment she reaffirmed in light of recent events.
On social media, young artists and influencers have taken a firm stand. Olivia Rodrigo, a lifelong Los Angeles resident, called the ICE raids “violent deportations” and urged followers to visit the ACLU’s “Know Your Rights” resources.
“Treating hardworking community members with such little respect, empathy, and due process is awful. I stand with the beautiful, diverse community of Los Angeles and with immigrants all across America. I stand for our right to freedom of speech and freedom to protest,” Rodrigo posted on her Instagram story.
After sharing a heartfelt statement saying “my thoughts are heavy, my heart follows,” actress Jenna Ortega called attention to multiple international injustices, linking them with the domestic ICE crisis, and shared lists of immigration attorneys and protest guidelines. “To say this doesn’t concern you, or that it isn’t your problem, is a privilege under abuse,” she affirmed.
Addison Rae, Kehlani, Sabrina Carpenter, and Conan Gray also made powerful statements online, offering solidarity with immigrant communities and sharing donation links to legal aid organizations. Gray emphasized that “immigrants are the backbone of America,” and labeled Trump’s actions “anti-American and anti-constitutional.”
Pedro Pascal, a vocal advocate for immigrant rights, shared a TikTok tribute to immigrant workers in Los Angeles. Gracie Abrams was spotted at a protest alongside her mother, holding a sign quoting Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Even Kim Kardashian — who has remained publicly neutral through much of Trump’s second term — broke her silence. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “When we witness innocent, hardworking people being ripped from their families in inhumane ways, we have to speak up. We have to do what’s right.”
As federal courts prepare to hear the appeal of Governor Newsom’s lawsuit, the conflict between state and federal authority over immigration enforcement continues to unfold. But what is clear is that a growing segment of Hollywood, across generations and genres, is aligning itself publicly against what many see as a crisis of conscience.
Their message is resounding: resistance is not a riot, and silence is no longer an option.
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