Trump administration calls Bruce Springsteen's anti-ICE song ‘random' with 'irrelevant opinions’
WASHINGTON, DC: White House has clapped back at Bruce Springsteen's latest protest song, written against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a blunt statement spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the Trump administration's focus was not on "random songs".
White House dismisses Bruce Springsteen's anti-ICE song
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “The Trump Administration is focused on encouraging state and local Democrats to work with federal law enforcement officers on removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities—not random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information.”
“The media should cover how Democrats have refused to work with the Administration, and instead, opted to provide sanctuary for these criminal illegals,” she added.
Springsteen's tribute to Renee Good, Alex Pretti
The response came after Springsteen released the song, ‘Streets of Minneapolis’, on Wednesday, January 28, dedicating it “to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors, and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renée Good.”
In a statement, the guitarist noted that he “wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis.”
Slamming the Trump administration, the lyrics of the song go, "Now they say they’re here to uphold the law / But they trample on our rights / If your skin is black or brown my friend / You can be questioned or deported on sight."
The lyrics also address the people of Minneapolis, “Oh our Minneapolis, I hear your voice. Singing through the bloody mist/We'll take our stand for this land/And the stranger in our midst.”
Springsteen slams govt's 'dirty lies'
Springsteen further branded ICE and Border Patrol agents as “federal thugs” and accused them of not just taking the life of Pretti and Good but also leaving them “in the snow, dead.”
“And there were bloody footprints / Where mercy should have stood / And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” he added in the song.
In addition, ‘The River’ singer’s protest song targeted Department of Homeland Security (DHS) head Kristi Noem and homeland security advisor Stephen Miller for their “dirty lies”, referring to their statements about Good and Pretti being “threats” to law enforcement.
Good was fatally shot by the ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7 while Pretti was killed by Border Patrol agents on January 24.
Both were called “domestic terrorists” by the government.
Pretti’s family calls administration's statement 'gut-wrenching'
Local leaders, Minnesota politicians, and the families of the two citizens have demanded fair investigations into the deaths.
In a statement, Pretti’s sister Micayla denied the administration's justification of killing him as she said, “All Alex ever wanted was to help someone—anyone. Even in his very last moments on this earth, he was simply trying to do just that.”
"When does this end? How many more innocent lives must be lost before we say enough? Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching, and my family is deeply grateful so many people have stood up and helped tell his truth. He would be very proud,” Micayla added.
