The United States Department of Homeland Security issued a sharp rebuke of Billie Eilish this weekend after the pop star shared a series of posts on her social media criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the wake of a controversial fatal shooting in Minneapolis. According to a statement from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, Eilish’s characterizations of the agency amounted to “garbage rhetoric,” with DHS arguing that she had not viewed the newly released footage of the January 7 incident that federal officials say explains the actions of the ICE officer involved. McLaughlin’s remarks echoed previous comments from senior administration officials including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, all of whom maintain that the ICE agent who shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good acted in self-defense after Good allegedly “weaponized her vehicle” during an enforcement operation. The DHS shared links to video footage on social platforms, urging the public to judge the events for themselves, and defended ICE procedures by citing internal data on increased attacks against officers.
Eilish’s Instagram Story posts, shared with her tens of millions of followers, included a graphic labeling ICE a “federally funded and supported terrorist group” and calls to “abolish ICE,” along with messaging urging Americans to contact their congressional representatives to seek the arrest of the agent involved. Other posts detailed deaths allegedly occurring in ICE custody in the previous year. The backlash from Eilish’s posts came as protests continued in Minneapolis and across the country over the killing of Good, who local officials and bystanders say was not attempting to harm agents when she was shot. Critics of the federal account, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have rejected the self-defense narrative, citing widely circulated video that appears to contradict elements of the federal explanation and calling for greater transparency and accountability.
The Minneapolis shooting has added to an already tense national debate over immigration enforcement and the role of federal law enforcement agencies, with civil rights groups and local leaders demanding independent investigations. Federal authorities have taken sole control of the inquiry, limiting participation by state investigators, a move that has fueled further criticism from Minnesota officials who argue a fair and thorough probe requires collaboration. Meanwhile, immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis have drawn renewed scrutiny amid heated public reactions from lawmakers, activists, and public figures like Eilish.
