Bruce Springsteen releases song protesting ICE in wake of Minneapolis raids

The musician explained on social networks that he composed the song on Saturday, recorded it on Tuesday and released it on Wednesday as a direct response to what he described as "state terror" linked to the actions of federal agents in Minnesota.

U.S. singer Bruce Springsteen (File)*AFP*

Published by

Diane Hernández

29 de enero, 2026

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The American musician Bruce Springsteen released a new protest song this week titled "Streets of Minneapolis," in which he harshly criticizes the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the immigration policies of the administration of President Donald Trump, following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good during federal raids in the city of Minneapolis.

Springsteen explained on social media that he composed the track on Saturday, recorded it on Tuesday and released it on Wednesday as a direct response to what he described as "state terror" linked to the actions of federal agents in Minnesota. The song is dedicated to the city's immigrants and to the memory of Pretti and Good, he said.

From "domestic terrorism" to "private army": the lyrics of the song

In the lyrics, the artist questions the official version of events and takes aim at Trump and federal forces, which he describes as a "private army." The song explicitly mentions the victims and portrays a climate of tension and violence in the city, which continues to be the scene of protests.

The deaths occurred in January during operations by federal immigration agencies. Following Pretti's death, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that it was a case of "domestic terrorism" and maintained that the victim had attacked the agents. However, a preliminary government report indicated that Pretti resisted arrest before being shot by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) troopers.

El comandante de la Patrulla Fronteriza de EE. UU. Gregory Bovino (derecha) camina cerca de la escuela secundaria Roosevelt durante la hora de salida, mientras las medidas federales de control de la inmigración provocaban protestas en Minneapolis, Minnesota, el 7 de enero de 2026. Un agente de inmigración de Minneapolis mató a tiros a una mujer el miércoles, lo que provocó la indignación de los líderes locales, a pesar de que el presidente de EE. UU., Donald Trump, afirmó que el agente actuó en defensa propia. El alcalde de Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, calificó de «tontería» la acusación del Gobierno de que la mujer estaba atacando a agentes federales y pidió a los agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE), que llevaban dos días realizando redadas masivas, que abandonaran Minneapolis.

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Springsteen's public statements

The song adds to a series of public pronouncements by Springsteen in support of the protests in Minneapolis. Days earlier, during the Light of Day festival in New Jersey, the musician dedicated his rendition of "The Promised Land" to Renee Good and endorsed the stance of the city's mayor, Jacob Frey, who called for the exit of ICE from Minneapolis.

The White House rejected the artist's criticism. In a statement quoted by The Washington Post, spokeswoman Abigail Jackson noted that the administration is "focused on removing dangerous and criminal illegal immigrants" and called the song an expression of "irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information."

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Trump and the artist

Springsteen, 76, has been a consistent critic of Donald Trump since before his first term and has incorporated political commentary into his work and live performances over the past decade. "Streets of Minneapolis" is in that tradition and joins a broader wave of protest songs that have emerged in response to current immigration policies in the United States.