Kim Kardashian has spoken out against the Trump administration's "inhumane" immigration raids in Los Angeles, which have sparked national outrage and prompted days of protests in the city. In a statement posted to her Instagram story on Tuesday, Kardashian expressed her dismay, writing, "When we're assured that ICE exists to safeguard our nation and deport violent criminals, that sounds commendable. However, when we witness innocent, diligent individuals being torn away from their loved ones in such cruelty, we must raise our voices. We must do what is morally right."
A lifelong Los Angeles County resident, Kardashian revealed that she has personally witnessed "how intricately immigrants are woven into the very soul of this city." "They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, colleagues, and family," she continued, emphasizing the deep ties immigrants have within the community.
Addressing her over 356 million followers on the platform, the reality star made it clear that this issue transcends political divisions: "Regardless of one's political leanings, it's evident that our communities flourish due to the contributions of immigrants. We cannot turn a blind eye when fear and injustice deprive individuals of living freely and securely." She firmly believes, "There must be a better approach."
Kardashian, 44, also shared a video from Monday's BET Awards featuring rapper Doechii denouncing the raids. The rapper declared, "There are ruthless assaults perpetuated in the name of law and order that are instilling fear and chaos in our communities."
For some, Kardashian's public condemnation of the administration may come as a shock, considering her previous collaboration with Donald Trump on criminal justice reform. During Trump's first term, Kardashian lobbied him to commute the sentence of Alice Johnson, a grandmother serving a life sentence without parole for a nonviolent drug offense. In 2018, Trump commuted Johnson's sentence, and in 2020, he granted her a full pardon. Johnson now serves as Trump's "pardon czar."
Following Johnson's release, Kardashian continued her work with the administration, advocating for the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that Trump signed into law in 2018. In 2020, she attended a White House meeting with several women whose prison sentences Trump had commuted. At the time, Kardashian expressed her intent to "discuss further changes that our justice system desperately needs!"
In 2019, Kardashian told Vogue magazine that her involvement in prison reform inspired her to pursue a legal education. She announced in May that she had completed her law degree after six years of dedicated study.
