If you want a new hobby, might I make a suggestion? Head to the comment section of any news story about rock musicians speaking out about ICE and peruse the responses, counting those who trot out the now predictable “why can’t they just stick to playing music??” Warning though- this new hobby could consume a lot of your time.
There has been a slew of this whining in recent months as an increasing number of punk musicians have used their music or their platforms to speak out about the actions of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency- otherwise known as ICE. The fascinating thing about the ‘stick to the music’ crowd is that they apply this demand even to artists that have never just ‘stuck’ to music…including many prominent punk musicians.
Exhibit A is Ken Casey- frontman of Boston Celtic punk group Dropkick Murphys, a band known for their working class politics and extracurricular activities when it comes to supporting certain community causes. And now one of the causes that they are speaking out about is the government agency rampaging through American communities.
Casey joined an anti-ICE rally being held by a united front of union organisations in his hometown of Boston in January and made his opinion on the situation clear: “Hell yeah, abolish ICE. They’re coming door to door, going to people’s houses, snatching people off the street, taking people who are taking part in the immigration process the way they’re supposed to”.
The band have also reworked the lyrics to their song ‘Citizen CIA’ (from 2005 album ‘The Warrior’s Code‘) to become ‘Citizen ICE’. The lyrics are pretty scathing and unambiguous- ICE are referred to as a “scumbag grifter’s kidnapping squad” and a “bully’s wet dream“. In interviews, Casey is not afraid to double down, telling the Guardian that the US is in the midst of an “authoritarian takeover” and that speaking out about Trump’s policies and the impact they are having is necessary to build resistance. He accused other musicians who keep quiet of making things harder for those how are speaking out.
Casey’s stance on ICE should not come as a surprise- as part of the Dropkick Murphys, he and his bandmates have taken ample opportunities to expose damage done by the Trump administration’s policies and rhetoric.
In July 2025, whilst on the Warped Tour, the band performed their song ‘First Class Loser’ against a backdrop of footage of Trump and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein; they have challenged audience members wearing MAGA paraphernalia at their concerts and Casey himself has joined an organisation called Home of the Brave which tells the stories of people who have been negatively affected by Trump’s actions or policies.
Head to a comment section when any of the above are discussed on social media and the long history that the Massachusetts band have on speaking seems to have evaded some on the internet:
“St. Patrick’s Day is coming up so they have to make themselves relevant again for a Day”.
“Just sing and dance puppet“.
“Punk is the establishment now“.
“I’m pretty sure all the members take turns sucking Bruce Springsteen’s tiny d*ck”.
The same treatment has been handed out to Green Day after they called out ICE during a recent pre-Superbowl concert, imploring them to quit their ‘shitty jobs’ and reconsider where they stand in the fight for the soul of the US. This also comes as part of a tradition the band have of calling out Trump specifically- when performing their 2004 hit song ‘American Idiot’ they frequently change the lyrics to ‘No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA’ and talk about rejecting the ‘MAGA agenda’. Admittedly Green Day’s political pedigree is not quite as radically outspoken as a band like the Dropkick Murphys but it still goes back a few years to the Bush Jr administration and War on Terror. But again, check the comment sections online and tick off the yawn-inducing tropes:
“Who doesn’t love going to a concert and getting a lecture on politics. So much fun. So punk rock”.
“Why does everyone feel they should push their political views? Just shut up and entertain us. Lol. I could care less if he was for Trump or against him, I’m over paying to see a show to forget about life, not here your political opinion”.
“Tell me you trying to stay relevant without telling trying to stay relevant“.
And my personal favourite….hundreds of comments saying ‘who?’ *
The majority of critical comments on the numerous news items- whether it is about the DKMs, Green Day or NOFX (who released ‘Minnesota Nazis’, an update to their 2022 song ‘Huntington Beach Nazis’) or any other punk musician- focuses on two major points of annoyance. First, that people want music, not politics. And second, that these are insincere attempts at staying relevant and acquiescing to the ‘woke’ establishment- so not very punk rock at all.
On the second point, we have written about this previously on Punk Rock Philosophy- answering the question as to what authority punk should be railing against and whether that should be a moving target. You can read that HERE.
With regards to whether people want musicians to be speaking out about political issues, the overwhelming feeling seems to be- yes they do. Especially in punk.
Punk likes to pride itself on its anti-racism credentials and the collective scene beams with pride when thinking about actions like the 1978 Rock Against Racism concert in London or the anti-Fascist stances of bands like Dead Kennedys, Crass, The Clash, Chumbawamba (amongst thousands of others). And it is true that there is a solid foundation of anti-racist thought and action that courses through the successive waves of punk, expressed in songs, interviews and support of direct action like fundraisers and protests. Many people would posit that being against racism is a fundamental criteria for membership in the punk club and that someone who did espouse discriminatory views has kind of missed the point of the whole endeavour. How consistently this standard bears up is a slightly different conversation.
There is a distinction between a more generalised support of the abstract concept of anti-racism, and a more proactive and informed acknowledgement of how racism impacts communities in a very tangible way and support for actions to combat this. Punk (or should I be more specific and say punks themselves) can be a bit hit and miss as to which one of those perspectives they support.
But…on the whole, punk has consistently subsumed issues pertaining to racial justice into its very core. I dare say that on a preponderance of evidence, punk is supportive of anti-racist and anti-Fascist actions. And that is something that the organised elements of punk can be proud of.
And fast forward to 2026, and that tradition is continuing although as always, most of the work isn’t being done on Superbowl stages or covered by major music presses. Punk’s heart is pumping in those small, local, DIY spaces and the opposition to ICE’s behaviour is vibrantly fermenting in those scenes.
There are dozens of examples. A Punks Against ICE fundraiser took place at Parachigo, a community venue situated in Fargo, North Dakota. The event raised thousands of dollars for support services such as the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and the Immigrant Law Resource Center.
Over in LA earlier in the month, punk band Dead City performed an impromptu gig on Alameda Street- the location of a Metropolitan Detention Centre, as hundreds of punks chanted ‘fuck ICE’ and marched down the street.
Messaging groups have been set up to monitor ICE activities and share information quickly and effectively that allows citizens to mobilise to protect their community by monitoring movements and turning out to offer support to besieged communities. Across those apps, members of the punk community are utilising their established networks of politically engaged and socially-conscious citizens and transmuting them into a group of ready-made activists. Getting the word out, getting people out of their house and to a particular location, exchange of resources and information…sounds like skills any good DIY punk promoter or organiser has in the bag.
Across Minneapolis punks are being proactive in raising money or awareness, finding pockets of resistance where they can. At gigs in anonymous warehouses or small basement venues, you can pick up protective equipment to take to an anti-ICE action, get information about self-defence and legal protections, pick up food to deliver to neighbours who feel unsafe going outside. Tangible, practical, relevant and accessible support that subverts the worst implications of the current authoritarian overreach that is tearing apart communities. Minnesota punks have a history of pushing out the racist elements in their community- in the 1980s and 90s, young punks belonging to groups such as Anti-Racist Action would go dumpster-diving outside the homes of neo-Nazi skinheads, retrieving discarded mail with the Nazis’ real names and eventually posting “MEET YOUR LOCAL NAZI” posters in their neighbourhoods.
Green Day may be a million miles away from the grassroots punk scene now- they’re global superstars and multi millionaires- but their current proclamations have their roots in the politics of the scene that nurtured them.
Are they poseurs trying to stay relevant? No- they arguably have no need to force relevance when they are still selling out stadiums and selling millions of records. The work going on on the ground in the community is supported and bolstered by the likes of Green Day and Dropkick Murphys using their platforms to amplify the issue. And the issue is an urgent one.
As an agency, ICE was set up as part of the Homeland Security Act 2002 (which was a response to the September 11th attacks in 2001) and began operation in 2003. It absorbed the prior functions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the United States Customs Service. The Act also set up the Department of Homeland Security and ICE became a subsidiary agency.
So ICE is not an invention of the current Trump regime- they have been operational for well over a decade but there has been a significant ‘ramping up’ of their use under Trump as they become the primary weapon in the administration’s war on immigrants. The current US president has significantly expanded the number of ICE agents, their budget and their mission since returning to the White House. In 2025 they spent 8 billion dollars on recruitment for new agents so they would have enough manpower to execute Operation Metro Surge- the effort to mass deport millions of people. There are now more than 70,000 people languishing in immigration detention centres which is an all time high. And these centres have been mired in reports about the inhumane conditions where allegations of abuse and neglect are rife.
The agent behaviours- over zealous violence and complete disregard for due process- have terrorised the communities that they have infiltrated. There have been multiple fatalities- Renee Good was shot by an ICE agent whilst sat in her car on 7th January this year and ICU nurse Alex Pretti was killed by ICE a mere 2 weeks later. Both of these murders took place in full view of the community and with seeming impunity for those agents involved. And in 2025, 32 people died in ICE’s custody- a deadly record for the agency.
This is not just a political crisis- it is a matter of life and death for everyone in the community. On that basis, it seems unthinkable that punks would NOT use their platforms to at least MENTION it. As for the purpose of speaking out, I’ll leave the last word to Fat Mike as he was asked about his contribution to anti-ICE tracklists with ‘Minnesota Nazis’:
“This song isn’t gonna stop the absolute madness…. but you do what you can to make this world a better place. Let’s look out for each other the best we can. Love > Hate….. even though it doesn’t seem like it right now….”
*Who hasn’t heard of Green Day by now??
