Actor John Leguizamo, a longtime vocal critic of President Trump and his administration, says he is showing a section of his social media following the door amid the federal government's relentless crackdown on immigration.
The “Romeo + Juliet” and the “Moulin Rouge!” The acting veteran, who is Latino, issued a brief, powerful video message on Instagram on Wednesday to his followers who also support the immigration agency. “If you follow ICE, stop following me,” he said in his post.
“Don't come to my shows, don't watch my movies,” he added. Emmy winner Leguizamo captioned his post: “Abolish the ice!”
The actor and comedian, also known for the “Ice Age” films and the cult classic “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar,” is among Hollywood stars speaking out vehemently against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents amid recent killings. An ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good earlier this month in Minneapolis, where Border Patrol agents on Jan. 24 shot and killed Alex Pretti. An off-duty federal immigration agent shot and killed Keith Porter Jr. in Northridge on December 31. They are among more than 20 people who died in a wave of aggressive immigration operations launched by the Trump administration last year.
Other actors who also use social networks to speak out against ICE and other federal immigration agents are Pedro Pascal, Mark Ruffalo and Ayo Edebiri. Musicians such as Olivia Rodrigo, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Billie Eilis and Tyler, The Creator have also condemned federal agents.
White House border policy adviser Tom Homan said during a news conference Thursday that street operations in Minneapolis would be reduced if agents were allowed into local jails and asserted that the federal government was not backing down from its aggressive immigration agenda.
“We are not going to give up our mission at all,” he said. “We are not going to give up on the president's mission to enforce immigration law: let's make that clear.”
Staff writers Malia Méndez and Jenny Jarvie contributed to this report.
