ICE OUT: Fashioning Our Voices

America is moving backwards with the current administration and their active assault on minorities. Through this outrage, many figures in politics, media, and influencers have started speaking out and taking a stand to make their opinions heard for the greater good. There has been an astounding increase in celebrities, designers, and fashion industry professionals all wearing ICE OUT pins to highly publicized events (and rightfully so). It’s these powerful figures doing what is right by speaking up for what they believe in and using their platform to push for reform-to influence others to protest. By publicly showcasing their beliefs they are creating an environment where others feel more inclined to speak their own thoughts, increasing activism and awareness.

In case you don’t know the state of US affairs right now, here’s a quick rundown; in July of 2025 President Donald Trump passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which put pressure and stress on immigrant communities across the US. Specifically, this bill targets taxes on immigrants and people without a Social Security card. If you want to learn more about the tax changes for immigrants working without a social security card, please check here. As well, the bill granted $170 billion for anti-immigration enforcement. The specific break down from Nation Immigration Law Center states that, “$30 billion to detain and deport more immigrants, more quickly; $45 billion to build new immigrant detention facilities; $47 billion to build more border walls and other barriers; $16 billion for increased border security, including surveillance and technology; $14 billion for state and local agencies that participate in immigration enforcement; $12 billion for more Border Patrol checkpoints, vehicles, and agents.”

Following this bill, ICE has become extremely active, fighting against protestors, arresting innocent civilians, and defamating our country. According to an article written for the American Immigration Council since “President Trump took office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was holding roughly 40,000 people in a national network of detention centers on any given day. In just one year, this number has increased by over 75%, with a record 73,000 people being held in detention as of mid-January”. This increase has sparked countless protests across the US, including the ongoing rampant protests in Minnesota. On top of protests being held across the nation, violence and brutality from ICE has become more transparent by the day. Violence can be seen throughout the US, with arrests of innocent people and countless murders from these “police” endlessly wreaking havoc. This violence has also reached our very own city-Savannah, Georgia. This hits quite close to home, as the devastating loss of Dr. Linda Davis, a beloved community member, educator, and mother, was killed by ICE in mid February. This killing sparked numerous protests in the month of February championing ICE OUT and No Kings. As these numbers start to rise, celebrities and figureheads are using their platforms to speak out and use their influence to put a stop to the ongoing dehumanization and decimation ICE is causing.

Through this chaos, people have started speaking against ICE’s efforts and their inhumane tactics. This has been seen at concerts, runways, award shows, and many other major hubs of conversation. A few stuck out to me the most. Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny’s Grammy acceptance speeches, as well as Patricio Campillo and Rachel Scott closing their New York Fashion Week runways — along with other designers.

From celebrities new and old, we witnessed speeches and acts of protest while they actively received awards, gave speeches, and walked the red carpet. Billie Eilish, after receiving the award for her Song of the Year Wildflower, stated in her speech that “No one is illegal on stolen land”. This remark was met with unbelievable backlash, with thousands of people dragging and deliberately switching the meaning of what was stated. During a time like this, when so many innocent people’s lives are at stake, it is increasingly important to remember to come together as a society to take on these institutions as a collective force.

Additionally, Bad Bunny spoke about ICE during his acceptance speech for his Album of the Year, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS. He said ,“ICE OUT . . . We’re not savages. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans. We are Americans. The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Not only did he comment on ICE, but he also fought the people that claim immigrants are savages, animals, or aliens, following it with the truth. Saying that “the only thing more powerful than hate is love” couldn’t be more true. This statement has been reclaimed throughout history’s difficult ages of discourse-adding fuel to the flame of outrage. This moment was a major milestone in Bad Bunny’s career-and for the Grammy’s history as a whole. During a time when people needed hope and support, he gave it to them in the form of music.

This hope and resilience was not only given through words, but through their attire. The pins on their clothes, stating “ICE OUT”, were worn by Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Finneas (to name a few) at the 2026 Grammy’s. Wearing these pins allowed each celebrity to show what side they stand for.

Patricio Campillo, the designer for Campillo, closed his show last year at New York Fashion Week wearing a t-shirt that said “Golfo de Mexico” after the Trump Administration changed the name of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America”. However, this year he closed his show wearing an ICE Out pin. Knowing that designers and people in the fashion industry are pushing for change and not sitting in silence gives me hope. These events are covered by some of the biggest publications in the world, and having people protest and crave reform gives these magazines something to write about – and something for the masses to see and read. Rachel Scott debuted as creative director for Proenza Schouler, and the most noticeable thing about her look for her first runway was the “ICE OUT” pin she wore. In an interview for Marie Claire, she stated that “If I have any form of audience, I absolutely need to say something . . . It’s a responsibility.” Scott believes that having this large audience attending her show would be a waste to not vocalize her thoughts on the current political climate. This opportunity gave her the chance to make an impactful decision and to ignite a spark in the masses.

Along with Campillo and Scott’s runway, New York Fashion Week was slam packed with content- but this year it was packed with so much more. Attendees at almost every runway sported the “ICE OUT” pins, silently protesting at one of fashion’s biggest and most influential events of the year. These small acts are shifting the playing field, giving every-day people the opportunity to speak up for what is right while simultaneously sitting at a runway. My best guess for why attendees are wearing the pins is to make it near impossible to censor this important message out of mainstream media. If someone were to speak up about ICE, it is almost guaranteed that mainstream news outlets would choose to ignore and wipe the content. But, when enough people wear the pins, it’s almost impossible to ignore.

While some celebrities have spoken on ICE and the irreversible damage they are causing, more needs to be done to activate this change. More people need to speak out about everything happening in our country. The US has always been a diverse mix of cultures built on the backs of people from all different types of ethnic backgrounds. Stripping our nation of that is taking away what makes our country so beautifully unique. If you are able to: attend protests, talk to family and friends, and donate to charities. But most importantly, offer your support to those in need. The following are charities and resources to follow if you or someone you know is at risk:

Native American Rights Fund Resources for Individuals and Nonprofits Approached by ICE