Grammy's 2026: "ICE OUT"

Hiraya Publication
2 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 19 hours ago

Gia Rocero

MARCH 11, 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhvdOTvdpjs

Bad Bunny's acceptance speech for Album of the Year.

Video from Grammys.

“Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out.” With a single line, Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny turned music’s biggest night into a political protest. The phrase, prominently used in immigration protests across the country, calls for an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests targeting individuals without criminal records.

Winning Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the singer-songwriter made history as the first artist to win Album of the Year with a fully Spanish-language album. That moment redefined the definition of “American” music: the project no longer just topped charts, it bridged Puerto Rican identity and culture to a global audience.

The significance of the phrase extended beyond his speech; it drew closer attention to recent events on immigration enforcements. ICE, established shortly after the 9/11 attacks, is a government agency aimed to investigate immigration violations and deport people without lawful status. The intensified enforcement has erupted protests across the country following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renée Good, by federal agents during enforcement activities in Minneapolis. ICE has also detained a 5-year-old boy along with his father, who were then released after sparking outrage among community members.

“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans. If we fight, we have to do it with love.” Bad Bunny emphasized the humanity of immigrants, who were portrayed by the arrests as threats rather than people.

Billie Eilish also used her speech as an opportunity to emphasize immigrant rights. As she accepted her Grammy for Song of the Year for ‘WILDFLOWER’, she states: “No one is illegal on stolen land. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter”, with a part of her speech being censored by CBS: “...and F– ICE.” Other Grammys attendees like Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kehlani, and Joni Mitchell, wore “ICE Out” pins to show their support for the movement. British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean connected her Caribbean roots in speaking out about ICE: “I’m a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.”

The 2026 Grammys will be remembered not only as a celebration of music but also as a platform for artists to stand against injustice. What started from an acceptance speech became a collective statement: Immigrants are not defined by policies, but by their humanity.