Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 28, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBritish rock band Radiohead has demanded the removal of an ICE video using their song “Let Down” without permission, calling it a misappropriation and joining other artists who have condemned such unauthorized use amid growing scrutiny of ICE’s practices.
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - British rock band Radiohead said on Friday it wanted a promotional video for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that used their song to be taken down.
ICE, whose immigration enforcement tactics have been widely condemned by human rights advocates during President Donald Trump's hardline immigration crackdown, posted a video last week that used a version of Radiohead's song "Let Down."
"We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down. It ain't funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don't get to appropriate it without a fight," Radiohead said in a statement to media outlets.
ICE did not immediately respond to request for comment outside of business hours.
The song's version appeared as a soundtrack to the video that showed a montage of victims of violence that ICE attributed to immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally.
Radiohead said the song was used without the band's permission.
The Trump administration has used ICE in an immigration crackdown and deportation drive that has been condemned by human rights advocates, especially after the January fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minnesota. Many celebrities have also previously condemned ICE.
Rights groups say the crackdown has created a fearful environment for both citizens and immigrants, especially for minority groups.
Around the country, at least eight people have died in ICE detention centers since the start of 2026, following at least 31 deaths last year.
Rights advocates have also raised free speech and due process concerns in ICE's detention and attempted deportations of pro-Palestinian foreign protesters who opposed U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza.
Trump has cast his crackdown as aiming to curb illegal immigration and improve domestic security.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Sam Holmes)
Radiohead stated that ICE used a version of their song 'Let Down' in a promotional video without the band's permission.
The ICE video showed a montage of victims of violence allegedly linked to immigrants in the US illegally, using Radiohead's song as the soundtrack.
ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Radiohead's removal demand outside of business hours.
Human rights advocates have widely condemned ICE's enforcement tactics and criticized the creation of a fearful environment for immigrants and minorities.
Yes, many celebrities have previously condemned ICE, particularly regarding its immigration crackdown and deportation drives.
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