Zara Larsson Condemns ICE After Partner Barred From Entering the US

Pop star Zara Larsson has publicly criticised the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying the agency has prevented her partner from visiting the United States and accusing it of causing harm through its immigration policies.

Larsson shared a series of Instagram stories on Saturday, January 10, expressing anger toward ICE following growing public criticism of the agency. Her comments came after the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent earlier in the week, an incident that sparked protests and renewed debate over immigration enforcement in the US.

In one post, Larsson listed people and causes she supports, including immigrants, transgender people, access to contraception, welfare, and socialism. She ended the message with a strong statement saying she “fucking hate[s] ICE.”

In a follow-up post, Larsson addressed messages questioning why she said she loved “criminals.” She explained that her partner has been banned from entering the US because of a past criminal record related to cannabis use.

Larsson said her partner, Swedish dancer Lamin Holmén, has not had a criminal record for years, but is still not allowed to enter the country. She described the situation as unfair and outdated, arguing that non-violent drug offences should not permanently restrict someone’s freedom of movement.

The singer also criticised the wider criminal justice system, claiming that non-violent crimes often lead to harsh consequences and disproportionately affect Black and brown communities. She accused ICE agents of committing violent acts while enforcing immigration laws and said she would rather tolerate drug use than what she described as abusive enforcement practices.

Despite her anger, Larsson ended her comments by calling for empathy, saying she believes people can change and encouraging others to remember the humanity of those working within the system.

Larsson’s remarks followed the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was shot on January 7 during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Good was a poet, a mother of three, and a volunteer involved in neighbourhood patrols that monitored ICE activity. Her death has led to nationwide protests and intensified scrutiny of ICE’s actions and use of force.

Neither ICE nor US federal authorities have publicly responded to Larsson’s comments.