The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a video depicting migrant arrests set to a song by country artist Zach Bryan.
It came shortly after Bryan teased a song critical of ICE, sharing a snippet of his upcoming track “Bad News” that denounces immigration raids under the Trump administration.
Why It Matters
Zach Bryan’s new lyrics about immigration enforcement have ignited a sharp cultural and political divide, drawing criticism from conservative figures and praise from others who see his work as a bold commentary on national issues.
The uproar unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of ICE under the Trump administration’s expanded deportation policies, placing Bryan’s music at the center of a broader debate over the balance between law enforcement, public sentiment, and artistic expression.
What To Know
On October 7, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a video on social media featuring Zach Bryan’s song “Revival.” The video shows ICE and Border Patrol agents conducting raids, detaining migrants, and confronting protesters, with imagery of officers in gas masks intercut throughout.
The footage plays over Bryan’s song, which references a late-night revival and themes of redemption and endurance.
The agency captioned the post “We’re Having An All Night Revival.” The pairing was widely seen as a response to Bryan’s recent song snippet “Bad News,” which includes critical references to ICE raids.
Bryan, a Grammy Award-winning singer and U.S. Navy veteran, shared the teaser on Instagram on Friday. The lyrics reference ICE raids.
They include: “ICE is gonna come, bust down your door / Try to build a house no one builds no more / But I’ve got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone.”
In the song, Bryan also addresses what he describes as a decline in national unity, singing: “I’ve got some bad news / The fading of the red, white and blue.”
Bryan has been embroiled in a verbal spat and war of words with the administration, trading public remarks after his song criticizing ICE raids drew a sharp response from White House officials who accused him of condemning federal agents.
The new video is part of a pattern in which DHS has increasingly deployed memes to mock migrants and popular culture. Earlier this year, DHS posted a video comparing migrant arrests to catching Pokémon—complete with the catchphrase “Gotta Catch ’Em All”—which drew backlash and questions about appropriateness.
UK pop singer Jess Glynne objected when her 2015 track “Hold My Hand” was used in a White House social post promoting ICE deportations, writing that it made her “feel sick” and decried the use of her work to spread division.
Podcaster Theo Von has also publicly demanded that DHS remove clips of him used in an immigration crackdown video, and requested payment for the use of his footage.
The controversy arrives amid a surge of heightened ICE raids in cities across the U.S., including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.
In Chicago, state leaders have condemned the tactics and called for greater transparency and due process protections.
What People Are Saying
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek on Tuesday: “While Zach Bryan wants to Open The Gates to criminal illegal aliens and has Condemned heroic ICE officers, Something in the Orange tells me a majority of Americans disagree with him and support President Trump’s great American Revival. Godspeed, Zach!”
In response to the song, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin told Newsweek: “Stick to Pink Skies, dude,” referencing Bryan’s 2024 hit.
In response, Bryan wrote on his Instagram account: “I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snippet. This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media. This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle. Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.
“I served this country, I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a*****e, just a 29-year-old man who is just as confused as everyone else. To see how much s**t it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing we’re all one bird and American. To be clear I’m on neither of these radical sides. To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in just know I’m trying my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes. Everyone have a great day and I love each and every one of ya!!!”
What Happens Next
It remains unknown at this stage when the song will be released.
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