Bad Bunny calls out ICE for conducting raids in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny has spoken out about the continuing ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids happening not just in Puerto Rico, but across the nation.
As a devoted fan of Nuevayol, I recently witnessed a chilling moment when he shared a video on Instagram, complete with his own commentary, depicting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers executing a raid on the island.
As a film enthusiast, I exclaimed, “Behold, those officials are in those RAV4s. They’ve arrived on Avenida Pontezuela in Carolina,” implying that they’re not giving the locals the space they need to handle things themselves, but rather choosing to intervene.
On Monday evening, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii spoke out against the “harsh assaults” by the federal government towards Los Angeles as she received the BET Award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist.
Ever since President Trump began his second term, Puerto Rico has faced ICE raids focusing on its predominantly Dominican immigrant community. For quite some time, immigrants hailing from the neighboring Caribbean island have been authorized to open bank accounts and acquire driver’s licenses that clearly show their immigration standing. As per The Associated Press, more than 55,000 individuals from the Dominican Republic reside in Puerto Rico.
Rebecca González-Ramos, ICE’s leading investigator in Puerto Rico, shared with NPR that the agency has made approximately 500 arrests, and around three-quarters of these arrests have been Dominicans. Notably, less than 80 out of the 500 arrested individuals have a criminal history, with the most frequent charge being readmission into the country after being deported.
Amidst ongoing ICE raids in Los Angeles, notable Latinx musicians such as Becky G, Ivan Cornejo, and Maná are using social media platforms to express their solidarity with the immigrant community and join the chorus of protests.
For individuals arrested on the island, an additional challenge arises as they need to be transported to the U.S. mainland for their legal proceedings instead of being handled there directly.
ACLU lawyer Annette Martínez Orabona stated at a recent press conference that the detention of individuals with ongoing immigration cases presents significant challenges, as their legal representation is based in Puerto Rico. This issue is particularly severe for Puerto Rico because it’s not connected to the mainland, making it impossible to reach by car.
Bad Bunny’s criticism of ICE’s actions follows other prominent Latin American musicians speaking out against ICE raids and expressing solidarity with immigrants. Artists such as Becky G, Ivan Cornejo, Fuerza Regida, Junior H, Grupo Frontera, and Maná have recently used their platforms to voice their concerns for the immigrant community.
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2025-06-19 01:31