Billie Eilish Slams Trump Administration Over ICE Violence: ‘We No Longer Feel Safe in Our Own Homes or in Our Streets’

While accepting the Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Award for Environmental Justice in Atlanta, Billie Eilish offered a sharp rebuke of federal policies. The singer, whose 2019 debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?' catapulted her to global fame, used her platform at The King Center to detail a perceived decline in civil rights and environmental protection under the current administration. According to Rolling Stone, she expressed that celebrating environmental progress felt incongruous when, in her view, national priorities were shifting away from such goals.

In her speech, Eilish outlined a series of concerns, stating, "We’re seeing our neighbors being kidnapped, peaceful protesters being assaulted and murdered, our civil rights being stripped." She further connected these issues to environmental justice, criticizing cuts to climate crisis resources in favor of fossil fuels and highlighting how animal agriculture damages the planet. The artist framed access to food and healthcare as an emerging privilege for the wealthy rather than a fundamental right for all Americans. This is not the first time Eilish has used an awards ceremony to advocate for change; at The Wall Street Journal's Innovator Awards last October, she publicly urged affluent individuals to share their wealth, coinciding with the announcement that her own tour had generated $11.5 million for charitable causes.

Eilish's criticism appears partly fueled by recent events related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agency, created in 2003 under the Department of Homeland Security, came under her scrutiny following the January death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE agent. On her Instagram, Eilish posted multiple stories condemning ICE, labeling it "a federally funded and supported terrorist group" that has failed to improve public safety. She also shared a memorial list honoring 32 individuals who died in ICE custody in 2025, one of the deadliest years for the agency in its two-decade history.

"It is very clear that protecting our planet and our communities is not a priority for this administration. And it’s really hard to celebrate that when we no longer feel safe in our own homes or in our streets," Eilish remarked during her acceptance. She expressed a sense of duty, adding, "I have this platform and I think it’s my responsibility to use it." This perspective reflects a growing trend among young artists who see their cultural influence as intrinsically linked to social advocacy, a modern interpretation of the legacy of Dr. King, for whom the award is named.

Despite her forceful comments, Eilish concluded with personal humility, stating she did not "feel deserving" of the honor. She acknowledged her fellow award recipients and thanked her parents, ending a speech that blended gratitude with a urgent call for systemic change.