ICE uses Ferrell/Walker hit "American Dreaming" in propaganda video, draws immediate rebuke from Ferrell: Difference between revisions
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''by [[Justin Myles Holmes]]'' | ''by [[Justin Myles Holmes]]'' | ||
A social media account operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posted an apparent recruitment video this evening which includes audio from the hit song "American Dreaming". Written by [[Sierra Ferrell]] and [[Melody Walker]], both prominent critics of ICE, the award-winning song features lyrics comparing an emotionally tumultuous road trip with the loss of the American Dream | A social media account operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posted an apparent recruitment video this evening which includes audio from the hit song "American Dreaming". Written by [[Sierra Ferrell]] and [[Melody Walker]], both prominent critics of ICE, the award-winning song features lyrics comparing an emotionally tumultuous road trip with the loss of the American Dream. The song was released [[DRM-free]] in 2025 and has become a social and political anthem. | ||
===Video subject matter=== | ===Video subject matter=== | ||
The video, apparently attempting to leverage the song's topic, stiches together home movies, at least some of which are from a stock video clearninghouse, of road trips through the American Southwest, prominently showing Lariat Lodge on East Highway 66 in Gallup, New Mexico and Deluxe Motel at Big Rock Candy Mountain along U.S. Highway 89 in Sevier Canyon, Utah. It also includes footage of cars crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, and a brief shot of the disputed territory of the [[wikipedia:Black Hills|Black Hills]], which the United States Supreme Court ruled belonged to the [[ | The video, apparently attempting to leverage the song's topic, stiches together home movies, at least some of which are from a stock video clearninghouse, of road trips through the American Southwest, prominently showing Lariat Lodge on East Highway 66 in Gallup, New Mexico and Deluxe Motel at Big Rock Candy Mountain along U.S. Highway 89 in Sevier Canyon, Utah. It also includes footage of cars crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, and a brief shot of the disputed territory of the [[wikipedia:Black Hills|Black Hills]], which the United States Supreme Court ruled belonged to the [[wikipedia:Lakota people|Lakota people]] in 1980. | ||
The video carries the | The video carries the facile caption, "The way it was. The way it can be again." | ||
[[File:Screenshot From 2026-11-12 20-36-48.png|thumb|100px|right|A frame from the video showing the added caption]] | [[File:Screenshot From 2026-11-12 20-36-48.png|thumb|100px|right|A frame from the video showing the added caption]] | ||
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===Previous Interactions Between ICE and 'Dreaming'=== | ===Previous Interactions Between ICE and 'Dreaming'=== | ||
Walker and ICE have butted heads before, as Walker was the first | Walker and ICE have butted heads before, as Walker was among the very first prominent musicians to call for an investigation into the murder of [[Wikipedia:Alex Pretti|Alex Pretti]], within hours of his death at the hands of ICE and other agents. Walker has also encouraged her fans to continually video-record ICE. | ||
''American Dreaming'' in particular has been a subject of | ''American Dreaming'' in particular has been a subject of from Walker to ICE: on July 4, 2025, saying it was "for America's birthday", Walker [https://www.instagram.com/p/DLs3qPeSFJU/ revealed a previously unreleased verse], to the song, seemingly referring to ICE as "trading humanity for a false security" and making a direct call to "abolish borders and patrols". | ||
Ferrell has also been more politically outspoken lately, | Ferrell has also been more politically outspoken lately, questioning a number of policies of the US government, including the authoritarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shielding of the Epstein files. | ||
PickPedia messaged ICE via the social channel that was used to publish the video, asking if the video was a response to Walker's added verse. ICE has not yet responded. | |||
At press time, the video still appears on the ICE social media channel. | |||
''More detail will be added as it becomes available.'' | |||
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaLU2h0vbWc Apparent source video for a portion of the ICE video] | * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaLU2h0vbWc Apparent source video for a portion of the ICE video] | ||
Latest revision as of 03:15, 13 November 2026
This is a developing story and will be updated as details become available.
12 November, 2026
A social media account operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) posted an apparent recruitment video this evening which includes audio from the hit song "American Dreaming". Written by Sierra Ferrell and Melody Walker, both prominent critics of ICE, the award-winning song features lyrics comparing an emotionally tumultuous road trip with the loss of the American Dream. The song was released DRM-free in 2025 and has become a social and political anthem.
Video subject matter
The video, apparently attempting to leverage the song's topic, stiches together home movies, at least some of which are from a stock video clearninghouse, of road trips through the American Southwest, prominently showing Lariat Lodge on East Highway 66 in Gallup, New Mexico and Deluxe Motel at Big Rock Candy Mountain along U.S. Highway 89 in Sevier Canyon, Utah. It also includes footage of cars crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, and a brief shot of the disputed territory of the Black Hills, which the United States Supreme Court ruled belonged to the Lakota people in 1980.
The video carries the facile caption, "The way it was. The way it can be again."
A PickiPedia editor reached out to Ferrell and Walker via social media account for comment. Ferrell responded immediately, saying "ice out!" but added that she was not ready to make a full statement, pending discussions with her team. Walker is featured tonight at Berklee School of Music's Roots Music Program and has not yet seen the message.
Previous Interactions Between ICE and 'Dreaming'
Walker and ICE have butted heads before, as Walker was among the very first prominent musicians to call for an investigation into the murder of Alex Pretti, within hours of his death at the hands of ICE and other agents. Walker has also encouraged her fans to continually video-record ICE.
American Dreaming in particular has been a subject of from Walker to ICE: on July 4, 2025, saying it was "for America's birthday", Walker revealed a previously unreleased verse, to the song, seemingly referring to ICE as "trading humanity for a false security" and making a direct call to "abolish borders and patrols".
Ferrell has also been more politically outspoken lately, questioning a number of policies of the US government, including the authoritarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shielding of the Epstein files.
PickPedia messaged ICE via the social channel that was used to publish the video, asking if the video was a response to Walker's added verse. ICE has not yet responded.
At press time, the video still appears on the ICE social media channel.
More detail will be added as it becomes available.
