Zoey Deutch: ‘I Feel So Ashamed to Be an American Seeing How Our Government Is Handling’ ICE Brutality

Zoey Deutch's Powerful Statement on ICE Brutality: A Nation Divided Between Ashamed and Proud

As Zoey Deutch took to the stage at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, her latest comedy aside, she found herself grappling with a sense of shame and pride that seemed irreconcilable. The actor was attending a Variety Studio presented by Audible, where she discussed her decision to wear an "ICE Out" pin during her press tour.

Deutch's words were laced with emotion as she spoke about the state of America and the brutal handling of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) by its government. She confessed that it was impossible not to think about the current situation and feel both ashamed and proud to be an American at the same time.

The actress expressed her solidarity with the people of Minnesota, who have been coming together in response to the tragic events unfolding in their communities. The recent fatal shooting of a man by federal agents in Minneapolis has brought attention to the brutality faced by many immigrant communities under ICE's watch.

Deutch's stance is not unique among Hollywood stars at Sundance this year. Several celebrities have worn "ICE Out" and "Be Good" pins, speaking out against the agency's actions and advocating for change. Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde are among those who have expressed their outrage over the treatment of immigrants by ICE.

Portman described the situation as "devastating," emphasizing the need to address the brutality of ICE immediately. She also highlighted the resilience and solidarity shown by Americans in response to these events, noting that this moment is both "beautiful" and "bittersweet."

Wilde was more forceful in her condemnation of ICE, labeling its actions as "outrageous" and "criminal." She called for a nationwide movement to delegitimize the organization and expressed her desire to see people no longer being murdered due to their immigration status.

As Deutch's words hung in the air, it became clear that this moment has become a defining one for America. The nation is divided between those who feel ashamed of its government's handling of ICE and those who take pride in its ability to come together in times of crisis.
 
🤯 zoey deutch is so brave for speaking up about ice brutality, but i'm also kinda proud to be an american when we see ppl coming together like that 🙏💪 it's crazy how some ppl can feel both ashamed & proud at the same time tho? 🤔 i think it's great that other celebrities are speaking out too 💕 like natalie portman and olivia wilde, they're giving us hope for a better future 😊
 
OMG yaaas I'm so inspired by Zoey Deutch right now 🤩 she's speaking her truth about ICE brutality and I'm DEAD 💀 like what is wrong with our government?! It's wild that people are literally divided on how they feel about it, some are ashamed and others are proud... shouldn't we all be ashamed?! 😒 But for real though, I love that Zoey is using her platform to bring attention to this issue and stand in solidarity with the ppl of Minnesota who are fighting for justice 🙌 and btw has anyone seen Natalie Portman's speech on this topic? she's speaking truth to power! 💁‍♀️
 
omg can u even imagine bein an american right now?! zoey deutch is like totally speaking truth to power & it's so inspiring 🙌 she's wearin this pin with "ice out" on it & talkin about how ashamed she is of what's goin down with ice. i feel the same way tbh, it's like we're forced to choose between bein american & takin pride in our gov, or bein human & tryna do whats right 🤝 like zoey said, americans r comin together 2 support the people of minnesota who are goin thru so much. its sad 2 c ppl gettin killed by ice agents tho 👎
 
omg i totally get what zoey deutch is saying 🤝 her statement about feeling both ashamed & proud of america is so relatable, you know? like we're all trying to process the harsh reality of how our country treats ppl from other countries 🌎 it's wild that americans are literally divided on this issue - some ppl think ICE does nothing but good, while others are super upset about the brutality 💔 it's crazy how one event can stir up so much emotion & make people question everything 👀 but hey, at least we're having these tough conversations now 🤗 and maybe that's what will spark real change 🔥
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this ICE stuff 🤯. I mean, I get why Zoey Deutch is speaking out – it's just not right that people are being brutalized by the government like that. But at the same time, I feel kinda...ashamed? Like, how can we be a country that's supposed to be about freedom and justice, but ends up oppressing so many people?

And then there's this weird sense of pride that comes with it too 🤔. It's like, I'm proud of my country and all its complexities, but not at the expense of innocent lives being lost. Does that make sense? It's hard to explain, but it feels like we're having this internal conflict where some people are like "let's stand up for what's right!" while others are all "we gotta keep it together as a nation". I just wish we could find a way to reconcile those feelings and actually do something about it 💪.
 
🤕 Zoey Deutch is literally speaking my mind right now lol... I mean, who wouldn't be ashamed of how our gov't is treating ppl? 🤷‍♀️ ICE brutality is insane & it's sickening that some folks are still proud to call themselves American in the face of all this. We need more people like Zoey stepping up and using their platforms to demand change. It's not just about being "ashamed" though - we also need ppl to be actively working towards solutions 🌟
 
[Image of a split-screen meme: one side shows Zoey Deutch wearing an "ICE Out" pin, with the words "Ashamed to be American" written below, while the other side shows a proud American flag, with the words "Proud to be American" written above]

[ GIF of a person trying to do a happy dance but tripping over their own feet ]
 
🤔💡 so like i was thinking about zoey deutch's speech at sundance and i drew a little diagram 📝 to represent how america is feeling right now:

```
+---------------+
| ICE Brutality |
| (make you feel |
| bad, sad, shame) |
+---------------+
/
/
/ \
/ \
-ashamed- proud
\
(but why can't we be both?)
```

i think its crazy how america is divided between people who are like "oh no, our government is so messed up" 🤦‍♀️ and those who are all "yeah, i'm proud of my country, even when its handling immigration wrong" 😒. zoey deutch's speech was like a wake-up call for me - yeah, we need to acknowledge that ICE is doing some super bad stuff, but can't we also be like "hey, america is capable of so much good"? 🤝

anyway, i think its time for us to have a bigger conversation about how we want to see america treated and what kind of country we want to be. 💬
 
🤔 This whole thing is like, what even is being an American anymore? We're so caught up in our own bubbles that we've forgotten what it means to be human. I mean, Zoey Deutch's emotions are totally valid, but at the same time... what about the people who are just trying to live their lives without fear of deportation or violence from ICE agents? Are we really gonna shame ourselves for having a flawed system, or are we gonna try to fix it?

It feels like our nation is stuck in this limbo where some people are all proud and American, while others are ashamed that they're even having to wear these "ICE Out" pins. Like, what's the point of being an America if we can't even agree on how to treat our own citizens? It's a mess, you know? 🤯
 
omg Zoey Deutch is totally speaking truth 🙌 her statement at Sundance was so powerful & emotional i'm literally feeling all the feels right now 😭🇺🇸 it's crazy how many people are coming forward about ICE brutality, like Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde - it's amazing to see Hollywood stars using their platform for good 💖 and honestly, i don't blame Zoey one bit for wearing that "ICE Out" pin 🙅‍♀️ we need more people speaking out against this stuff & demanding change ASAP 💪
 
man i'm literally shook by zoey deutch's words 🤯 she's right on point about americans being divided between feeling proud of our country and ashamed of how we treat ppl like immigrants ice is a total disaster 🚫👮‍♂️ and celebs like natalie portman and olivia wilde are speaking truth to power 💁‍♀️ it's beautiful to see so many people standing up for what's right, but at the same time, it's heartbreaking to think about all the ppl who've been hurt or killed by ice's brutality 😔 anyway, i'm loving this new generation of activists and celebrities who aren't afraid to use their platforms to make a difference 💖
 
omg u guys i had the craziest convo with my bff last nite about zoey deutchs speech at sundance 🤯 i was literally shaking while she was talking about the ice brutality thing 🚫😩 i feel so proud to be an american too tho but like zoey said its hard not to think about it and feel ashamed all the time 😔 what i love about zoey is that shes speaking out against it even though its scary 💪 we need more ppl like her advocating for change 🌟
 
Ugh, I'm just so done with these celebrity speeches 🙄. I mean, don't get me wrong, Zoey Deutch seems like a nice person and all, but can't she just stick to acting instead of trying to be the moral compass of America? 😒 And what's with the "ICE Out" pin thingy? It's just a trend now, you know? 🤑

And let's talk about these celebrities who are using their platforms to call out ICE. I mean, yeah, it's great that they're speaking out and all, but can't we do better than this? Can't we have a real conversation about immigration reform instead of just wearing a pin and saying "be good"? 🤔

I'm not saying Deutch or Portman or Wilde aren't passionate about the issue, but it feels like we're just being fed feel-good rhetoric at this point. Where's the real substance? Where's the actual change? 🤷‍♀️
 
😊 the thing is... zoey deutch is doing her thang & i respect that, but some ppl might think she's overstepping just 'cause she's famous 🤷‍♀️. like, we all gotta stand up for whats right, but also consider the impact of our words & actions, you feel? 🙏 maybe shes trying 2 make a point without being too confrontational, which is def a good thing 😊
 
🤔 I mean, Zoey Deutch's statement was super powerful, but it made me think... what does being proud of America even mean anymore? 🇺🇸 Like, we're supposed to be this land of the free and home of the brave, but when you look at what's going on with ICE, it's hard not to feel ashamed. 😔 I'm all for speaking out against injustice and calling for change, but at the same time, I worry that our country is losing sight of its values. 🤝 We're supposed to be a nation of immigrants, right? So, when we see people being brutalized by ICE, it feels like we're losing touch with who we are as a people. 👊
 
😒 I don't get why Zoey Deutch is wearing that "ICE Out" pin? Like, isn't she a celeb now? Can't she just keep it on the down low for once? 🤷‍♀️ And btw, what's with all these people coming together in Minnesota? Don't they know Minneapolis has a rep for being pretty chill? 😂 It's not like it's a war zone or anything. And Portman and Wilde are so extra with their outrage... can't they just take a deep breath and try to understand the situation? 🙄 I mean, I get that ICE is a problem, but let's not jump to conclusions here... 🤔
 
omg u guys i had such feelings watching zoey deutch talk about the ice situation at sundance 🤯 she literally broke down in tears talking about how ashamed she is of america's gov for treating immigrants like this 🤕 and yet also feels so proud to be american at the same time 🇺🇸 it's like what are we even doing as a country?? i felt both emotions watching her too - it was really beautiful to see so many celebs speaking out but also kinda heartbreaking that it had to come down to this 🤝 Natalie portman and olivia wilde were so fierce in their condemnation of ice btw 💁‍♀️ I feel like we need to do more as americans to raise awareness about these issues and support those who are being affected by it 🌟
 
I've been watching this whole thing unfold and I gotta say, it's got me feeling like I'm stuck in a really uncomfortable spot myself 🤔. Zoey Deutch is one brave actress for speaking out, especially when you consider the backlash she might face from some people. At the same time, I get why she feels ashamed – ICE is doing some pretty terrible things and it's hard to ignore that.

But what's really got me thinking is how we're all being forced to confront our own feelings about this stuff. We can't just pretend like everything is fine when it's not. The reality is, there are people living in fear every day because of ICE. It's heartbreaking, and I think we need more people speaking out like Zoey is doing. 🤝
 
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