Dropkick Murphys share new protest single, ‘Citizen I.C.E.’
Dropkick Murphys are the latest musicians to release a protest song in reaction to the presence of ICE in Minneapolis, deeming the agents “power-hungry scumbags” in the new single, ‘Citizen I.C.E.’.
The Celtic punk band released the single to speak out against the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good at the hands of ICE officers in January.
“As Americans are being executed in the street, we feel it is our duty to raise consciousness and be one of the voices speaking against this nightmare. ‘Citizen I.C.E.’ is for the people,” the band explained of the release. “Stand strong against tyranny. Use it however you want.”
The lyrics attack the mental aptitude of ICE agents, beginning, “Power hungry scumbags apply today, come celebrate dictatorships and bolster the regime, while abusing helpless immigrants, a bully’s wet dream, you’ve joined the traitors’ ranks to play the hand of God in a dirtbag grifter’s kidnapping squad.”
The single features hardcore band Haywire. The song is a reimagined version of Dropkick Murphys’ 2005 song ‘Citizen C.I.A.,’ recorded in late 2025.
A physical copy of the song will be available via the upcoming New England Forever split EP with Haywire, whom they met while touring the US.
The vinyl version will be available exclusively at shows during Dropkick Murphys’ For The People…In The Pit St. Patrick’s Day Tour with The Aggrolites and Haywire supporting on most dates.
At the end of January, frontman Ken Casey called for a general strike and for the department to be shut down.
At the time, he said, “Abolish ICE. They’re coming door to door, going to people’s houses, snatching people off the street, taking people who are taking part in the immigration process the way they’re supposed to.”
Many other protest songs have been released in the last week in reaction to the worsening situation. The Boss Bruce Springsteen released his own protest ballad, ‘Streets of Minneapolis’, which went to number one in the US. A
Additionally, British singer-songwriter Billy Bragg released the song ‘City of Heroes’, paying respect to Minnesota.
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