The reality star turned criminal justice reform activist attacked the raids in Los Angeles over the summer

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons discusses Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. and facing charges, the remarks from the Los Angeles mayor regarding the ICE raids, the push from Democrats to unmask agents as well as his priorities.

Kim Kardashian expressed dismay on Thursday over the Trump administration’s ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, saying they’re targeting “people who have worked so hard to build our country.”

The reality star and entrepreneur expressed deep concern about the fear immigrant communities face, particularly those who she described as hardworking individuals who contribute to America’s growth.

“These are the people who build our country,” Kardashian said, drawing a line between official claims that ICE raids target violent offenders and the reality she sees among her friends and community.

For her, the issue isn’t about partisan politics but about the human beings whose lives are uprooted when families are separated and livelihoods are destroyed.

Kardashian’s comments are especially striking given her past willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on criminal justice reform, including her successful advocacy for clemency in high-profile cases like Alice Marie Johnson’s.

This history made her recent criticism even more dramatic, with many noting that she has gone from working with Trump to directly challenging one of his most hardline policies.

Her willingness to take such a public stance, despite potential backlash from conservative audiences and even her own business partners, demonstrates a bold shift in her public advocacy.

The reality star was asked to comment on the raids at the DVF Awards in Venice, Italy, where she accepted the Leadership Award for her work with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition.

“In the news you hear, ‘Oh, it’s about people who have committed these crimes and they’re trying to help out our country.’ But then you hear about all of the people who have worked so hard to build our country, and so many people that are such a part of our country getting affected,” Kardashian said, according to Variety. “People I know. People my friends know.”

Kim Kardashian was asked about her thoughts on the ongoing immigration raids while accepting an award for her work in police reform. (James Devaney/Getty Images)

Kardashian continued, “You want to believe that there’s a powerful message in protection, but then you see that it’s not really happening like that. It’s really tough, but I think that we have to do what we can to protect the people that have really supported and built our country.”

Fox News Digital reached out to Kardashian’s publicist for comment.

In June, Kardashian made a similar comment in an Instagram story after mass ICE operations in Los Angeles, calling them “inhumane.”

“Growing up in LA, I’ve seen how deeply immigrants are woven into the fabric of this city. They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, coworkers, and family.

No matter where you fall politically, it’s clear that our communities thrive because of the contributions of immigrants. We can’t turn a blind eye when fear and injustice keep people from living their lives freely and safely,” Kardashian wrote.

Kim Kardashian has once again stepped into the political spotlight, this time using her powerful platform to condemn former President Donald Trump’s controversial ICE raids.

Known globally for her influence in entertainment and fashion, Kardashian took a surprising turn when she publicly criticized the federal government’s immigration enforcement, calling out the human toll of deportations.

Her comments, delivered during the Diane von Furstenberg Leadership Awards in Venice, immediately ignited heated debate, with fans praising her courage while critics accused her of meddling in political affairs.

The Department of Homeland Security wasted no time pushing back. Officials released statements defending ICE’s actions, emphasizing that many of those arrested had prior criminal records. One DHS representative even suggested Kardashian was “misinformed and detached,” accusing her of glossing over the dangers posed by certain individuals targeted in the raids.

The sharp response highlighted how politically sensitive immigration enforcement remains, particularly when celebrities wade into the conversation and shift public attention toward the human cost of these operations.

Fans, meanwhile, were divided but undeniably engaged. Many praised Kardashian for “using her platform for good,” pointing out that her enormous reach ensures stories about immigrant families do not go unnoticed.

Others accused her of simplifying a complex issue and virtue-signaling without offering real solutions. Still, even her critics admitted that her words had forced immigration policy back into public discourse, amplifying voices that are too often silenced in mainstream debate.

For Kardashian, the risk of criticism seems secondary to what she views as a moral responsibility. By humanizing immigrants as “neighbors, friends, and family” rather than nameless statistics, she is reframing the national conversation about who truly benefits and suffers under sweeping immigration crackdowns.

Whether one agrees with her stance or not, her willingness to call out Trump’s ICE raids shows a celebrity unafraid to risk her brand image to defend those she believes deserve protection.