Lady Gaga slammed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during her recent performance in Tokyo.
The Oscar-winner paused her show at the Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital on Thursday night to address the audience, following the recent deaths of two Americans at the hands of immigration enforcement agents.
“I want to take a second to talk about something that’s extremely important to me,” Gaga told the crowd. “Something important to people all over the world and especially in America right now.”
The Bad Romance hitmaker continued, “In a couple of days, I’m gonna be heading home, and my heart is aching thinking about the people – the children, the families, all over America – who are being mercilessly targeted by ICE.”
Gaga went on to say she was thinking of those whose “lives are being destroyed”, before mentioning Minnesota, where two U.S citizens, Alex Jeffrey Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, were killed.
“I’m also thinking about Minnesota and everyone back at home who is living in so much fear and searching for answers on what we all should do,” she said. “When entire communities lose their sense of safety and belonging, it breaks something in all of us.”
The singer went on to express her hope that the situation would change.
“We need to get back to a place of safety and peace and accountability. Good people shouldn’t have to fight so hard and risk their lives for well-being and respect,” she told the crowd. “I hope our leaders are listening. I hope you’re listening to us ask you to change your course of action swiftly and have mercy on everyone in our country.”
Gaga added, “At a time where it doesn’t feel like it’s easy to have hope, it is my community and my friends, my family that hold me up.”
She then launched into a performance of Come to Mama, dedicating the song to anyone who is “having a difficult time”.
