ICE INVADES THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

ICE is reshaping the lives of Americans across the country. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, brings violence and fear from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. At the start of 2026, news about ICE entering Minneapolis spread throughout the USA. Sophie Hiroko, a bubble grunge artist from Minneapolis, is speaking up about the horrors she’s witnessing in her community. “There are thousands of ICE agents in Minneapolis, thousands more than have ever been sent to work in one city,” Hiroko stated.

  Fear is taking over the citizens of Minneapolis through uncertified and unqualified members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “When Trump was elected into office, and ICE began ramping up across the country, I knew they would come to Minneapolis. Our governor, Tim Walz, has long been a target of the Trump administration because of his active status in protecting Minnesota from many federal decisions against our state’s interests, such as anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion, and anti-immigration policies,” Hiroko said.

 ICE is impacting the daily lives of millions of people in the United States. Minneapolitans are coming together to support those in need through the art of music. “Most shows that are being played in Minneapolis are benefit shows with profits going directly to mutual aid networks sharing aid with families directly impacted by ICE,” Hiroko said. After the murder of Renee Good by ICE agents, Sophie Hiroko claimed, “There has been no such thing as promoting shows, content, and achievements in any 'normal' way.” She added that “it feels completely inappropriate to move on with life without acknowledging the events ongoing in our city and across the USA.” Concert photographer and videographer Serina Epperson believes that ICE is harming our communities, but also uniting people through a common enemy. “I think in general [ICE] has brought us closer to fight against a common enemy and it's really refreshing being in a space where I'm surrounded by like-minded people who share the same values as me,” Epperson said.

 Epperson uses music to help her stay positive when she is feeling down about the negativity in the news. “Music for me is an escape from the world and reality, from live music to going to shows and having fun with just me, my headphones, and a playlist. I've always loved live music and going to shows, whether I'm photographing/working the show or going as a fan, as soon as I step in that venue, all of my worries go away, and I lose all sense of reality. I'm in my own “Music World” I like to call it, where it's just my favorite artist and me, and I don't have to worry about absolutely anything, and I can just be in the moment and have no other responsibility other than enjoying myself and listening to my favorite artist,” Epperson said.

    Grace Franklin is the Editor-in-Chief of Sound Stage Magazine and Artist Manager. Franklin is from a small community called Bloomington in Indiana. Her city may be tiny, but it's located next to the large city of Chicago.“When I started seeing all the ICE raids on the news [in Chicago], I knew my community was most likely next. Soon enough, we were seeing them in undercover cars and vans all throughout our area, especially around the university,” Franklin claimed. Grace Franklin was given the opportunity to work on a project in the music industry in the southern states; however, this opportunity was tainted by the devastating effects of ICE's presence.

“I can’t speak to Bloomington specifically, however, last year I had the privilege of working for a non-profit music organization in Savannah, Georgia. We have had a few amazing musicians in our program who have had to flee the area due to ICE threats and mass deportations nearby. Not only have we lost families and friends through this, but we’ve also lost the incredible music in our area that once brought our community together,” Franklin Said Jewelles Imani is a singer/songwriter who is currently experiencing the effects of ICE in New York City. Imani claims that something the news isn’t showing is the brave people in her city who aren’t afraid to stand up to ICE. “In NYC, we’ve had people following ICE vans and banging on their vehicles. NYers are bold and aren’t afraid to take the power back in their neighborhoods,” Imani said.

     Many artists in the industry chose not to speak up about political issues, but Jewelles Imani is breaking the trend. Imani shares her reasoning for speaking up about ICE. “There are too many people who are worried about saying the perfect thing or not looking like a radical because of what it requires. My identity in itself is political, being black and a woman. Most artists in the entertainment industry are white and/or too wealthy for them to even conceptualize most issues as a problem for them at the status they are at. I understand that society will never progress if the majority of participants are silent,” Imani said. “I also feel like it’s never enough to just speak on social media and not take at least one action in real life. I have certain companies I have been boycotting for years and will never see my money again. I actively engage in conversations with my friends and acquaintances about the current horrors that our government is enacting on these people. I know individuals who will post online but are uncomfortable talking about anything in public, when that is the MOST important place to be discussing political unrest,” Imani continued, “Every conversation about injustice is important for change to happen,”

     With all of the darkness in America, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel; however, hope is not lost-- Sophie Hiroko and others in her area are funding support groups and charities like Powwow Grounds, Camp Nenookaasi, and local family-specific mutual aid networks to provide aid to those affected by ICE in Minneapolis and across the country. Giving up isn't an option for the people who have worked so hard to come so far. It's important to stay connected and find happiness within your community during hardship. Music can connect people in all walks of life and provide comfort to a nation in distress.  “I think empathy and human decency matter more than anything right now... Music is powerful; it challenges authority, reflects on culture and unites people against injustice. It allows for artists and listeners to and personal experiences,” Franklin said.

Written by Alyssa Lane