Kacey Musgraves divides fans with plea for aid to Immigrant children whose parents were deported: ‘It’s not political’
Kacey Musgraves used her 38th birthday concert to ask her fans to donate to a nonprofit supporting immigrant children whose parents have been deported, sparking immediate backlash from conservative commentators online and calls from some social media users to boycott the country star.
The conservative backlash
The eight-time Grammy winner paused her performance on opening night of her Middle of Nowhere tour at Chicago’s United Center on Friday to direct concertgoers to the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights.
On stage, Musgraves told the crowd she wanted her birthday wish to be simple: that fans contribute whatever they can to the Young Center, which she described as a “wonderful organization” and outlined its primary work with families torn apart by deportation proceedings.
“They help give aid, legal aid and money to children whose parents have been deported unfairly,” she told the audience. “It’s not a political thing. It’s just, these kids need help.”
She added, “Any amount, even 50 cents, would mean a lot to me and if you don’t want to, that’s totally fine too.”
Criticism followed swiftly after the moment from the concert spread across social media platforms. FOX NEWS host Tomi Lahren shared video footage of Musgraves’ plea Sunday and wrote, “What is an unfair deportation?”
NEWSMAX host Rob Schmitt added his own commentary, tweeting, “Nowhere is safe from libtards. Not even country music.”
MAGA-affiliated netizens also did not hold back.
One user suggested that Musgraves should instead raise money for victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Another criticized the disconnect between Musgraves’ request for fan donations and her own substantial wealth, estimated at around $15 million.
Musgraves’ past advocacy for immigrant children
The singer’s commitment to immigrant children extended well beyond her birthday concert moment. Earlier in 2026, she learned about three young mariachi brothers detained by ICE and invited them to open multiple performances during the Texas portion of her tour.
Antonio, Caleb and Joshua Gamez-Cuellar, aged 18, 15 and 12 and their parents were detained by immigration authorities during a routine check-in appointment. The family had arrived legally through the CBP One appointment system in 2023 and had been residing in the country while their asylum claim was processed.
During three sold-out performances at the historic Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, Texas, in May, the brothers opened shows and later performed alongside Musgraves, singing traditional mariachi selections and cover songs.
Other artists who have taken stands
Several artists have used ICE OUT pins during appearances at major award shows, while many others have been explicitly critical of the government’s attitude towards immigrants.
Artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande have publicly called out the Trump administration for using their music to promote law enforcement.
Billie Eilish described ICE on social media as a “federally funded and supported terrorist organization”. Bad Bunny excluded all U.S. locations from his 2025-2026 tour due to fears about ICE raids at venues.
Public criticism of ICE
By early 2026, public sentiment toward ICE enforcement had shifted dramatically. Many Americans have expressed concerns that the agency’s tactics in enforcing immigration laws had gone too far. A substantial majority opposed how ICE handled its enforcement duties, with skepticism cutting across partisan lines.
Across the country, anti-ICE demonstrations have been active, with several influencers and liberals calling out the government for the severe quality and human rights issues across numerous immigration detention and deportation facilities.