Ice Cube called on federal immigration authorities to call it aggressive and dehumanizing strategies in Los Angeles, which targets immigrant communities recently.
The hip-hop icon expressed his anger when he appeared on the Cruz Show in Los Angeles Royal 92.3, criticizing U.S. immigration and customs enforcement to attack places of worship, schools and family activities.
“Seeing people disrespect that responsibility, the federal government is just too clumsy, disrespectful, going to churches and weddings, grabbing people out of these schools,” he said. “Like, ‘Come on, you’re all over.'”
The interview posted Friday (August 7) was reportedly only a day after the day reportedly jumped out of a rented truck and detained an individual outside of Home Depot in Los Angeles. An action that an official called “Operation Trojan Horse” has sparked opposition from civil rights groups and local leaders.
“It’s painful because as far as immigration goes, everything is happening,” Cube said. “No one is safe, man. They don’t care who they catch. It’s sad. They come in and don’t respect everyone. They want to traumatize people, too.”
The NWA legend didn’t stop it when describing the emotional loss of these raids to the Latino population in the region. “It’s so sad,” he added. “I can’t wait for the period to end. I don’t know how we’re going to end, but it’s crazy to see where people dragged out of the shelter.”
Tensions in Los Angeles have been intensifying since June when protests pushed out a massive deportation to Donald Trump. The government deployed the National Guard to assist ICE in law enforcement throughout the city. Despite the federal judge’s order (which is under the responsibility of the Federal Court of Appeal), blowing up the indiscriminate arrests, the attack continues.
Cube joins a growing number of artists’ claims about immigrant suppression, including Taylor, creator, Olivia Rodrigo, Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong and Kelani.
ICE operations in Southern California have intensified in recent months, usually targeting locations where undocumented persons may collect. According to local reports, agents were arrested at schools, workplaces and even during religious rituals. Community advocates accused the agency of using intimidation tactics, instilling fear even among legal residents.
