Pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo has made headlines once again — but this time, not for her music. On Friday, the three-time Grammy Award winner Olivia Rodrigo publicly slammed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its division, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for using one of her songs in a controversial social media post.
Olivia Rodrigo’s Bold Stand Against Homeland Security and ICE
The DHS recently shared an Instagram reel warning undocumented immigrants to “self-deport.” The post included a message that read, “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.” What shocked many fans was the department’s use of Rodrigo’s hit track “All-American B*tch.”
Soon after, Olivia Rodrigo, who is of Filipino, German, and Irish heritage, responded sharply in the comments section. “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda,” she wrote, according to screenshots shared online by fans.
Decades after fleeing war, Laotian refugee now pleads for freedom from ICE detention
The comment quickly went viral, though it appeared to have been deleted or hidden later. Social media users flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to show support for the young artist. “Olivia Rodrigo slams the White House and Homeland Security for using her song in an ICE-related post,” one person posted on X. Another wrote simply, “I love you, Olivia Rodrigo,” applauding her for speaking up.
DHS’s Social Media Post Sparks Massive Outrage
The DHS video came as part of a broader campaign aimed at urging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the U.S. The department’s caption — written in capital letters — sounded stern, warning migrants that they would face serious consequences if they didn’t comply.
The video also promoted the CBP Home app, a government tool that allows people to manage certain immigration-related tasks. However, instead of focusing on the app, public attention shifted to the song choice —Rodrigo’s “All-American B*tch,” a track from her 2023 album GUTS.
The song, which celebrates female independence and identity, was used in a completely different context — and that’s what made fans furious. Many accused the DHS of using a feminist anthem to promote fear and discrimination.
USCIS reveals 275 cases of suspected immigration fraud in Minnesota operation
For Olivia Rodrigo, the issue wasn’t just about copyright or misuse of her work. It was about values. The singer has long been vocal about immigrant rights and social justice, and she has never hesitated to speak out against policies she believes harm vulnerable communities.
Fans quickly echoed her outrage. Some people demanded that DHS take down the post, while others said Rodrigo’s Filipino heritage made her statement even more personal. “She knows what it means to come from an immigrant family,” one user wrote on Instagram.
Within hours, “Olivia Rodrigo” began trending across major social media platforms, with thousands of users resharing the screenshots of her fiery comment.
Olivia Rodrigo’s History of Supporting Immigrants and Speaking Out
This isn’t the first time Olivia Rodrigo has criticized ICE or immigration enforcement policies. Earlier this year, in June, the singer voiced her support for anti-ICE protests happening across the U.S.
“I’ve lived in LA my whole life and I’m deeply upset about these violent deportations of my neighbors under the current administration,” Rodrigo said in a statement she posted on her Instagram Stories. “LA simply wouldn’t exist without immigrants.”
She went on to express empathy for immigrant families and communities that face deportation, adding, “Treating hardworking community members with such little respect, empathy, and due process is awful. I stand with the beautiful, diverse community of Los Angeles and with immigrants all across America. I stand for our right to freedom of speech and freedom to protest.”
Her strong words resonated with many young fans who see Olivia Rodrigo not only as a pop icon but also as a voice for fairness and equality.
Since the controversy broke out, supporters have continued to defend Rodrigo’s stance, saying she was right to call out the government’s use of her song without permission and in a misleading context. Several users on X commented that the DHS move showed “poor judgment” and “a tone-deaf understanding of the song’s message.”
Meanwhile, the DHS has not issued an official response regarding the post or Olivia Rodrigo’s criticism. The video remains a topic of heated discussion online, with many demanding accountability and transparency from the department’s media team.
Olivia Rodrigo’s latest stand highlights how artists are increasingly using their platforms to push back against political misuse of their work and to defend immigrant and minority communities.
For many, her message is clear — music should unite people, not be twisted into a tool for fear or division.