Why the Song Used in This ICE Recruitment Post Matters
Federal immigration officers are seen near the scene where Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer last week, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Just days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis during a federal enforcement operation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a recruitment message on Instagram that has drawn sharp criticism. The social-media post included the phrase “We’ll Have Our Home Again” and used a soundtrack of the same name by Pine Tree Riots — a song that critics say has been embraced in neo-Nazi and white supremacist online spaces.
The Instagram message, designed to attract applicants to federal service at a moment of heightened public scrutiny of ICE, triggered alarm among lawmakers and civil-rights advocates. Critics note that the phrase and lyrical themes in the song are tied in extremist circles to ideas of reclaiming territory or identity, and have been referenced by violent actors in past attacks.
Experts said the decision to pair that imagery and music with a recruitment push represents a shift: where coded references to far-right culture once came from fringe supporters, they now appear within official government accounts. Observers said the timing — coming just two days after the deadly Minneapolis shooting — would likely be read in extremist online communities as intentional.
The Minneapolis incident itself has sparked widespread debate. Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot and killed on January 7 in south Minneapolis by an ICE agent during a large federal immigration enforcement operation. DHS officials say the agent fired in self-defense after claiming Good used her vehicle as a weapon, a characterization disputed by local officials and independent video analysts who say available footage does not clearly support that account.
The shooting has led to protests locally and nationwide, with demonstrators criticizing immigration enforcement practices and calling for accountability. In Minnesota, a federal judge recently placed limits on how federal agents may engage with peaceful protesters following legal challenges.
Political reactions have been intense. Representative Rashida Tlaib condemned the DHS post as evocative of white nationalist online content, particularly in the context of the Minneapolis shooting. DHS officials and administration representatives have denied any endorsement of extremist ideology, arguing critics are misinterpreting the message.
President Donald Trump, who has backed expanded federal immigration enforcement efforts, has reiterated support for ICE agents and defended their actions as necessary for public safety. His administration continues to face criticism from local leaders who dispute federal accounts of the incident and question broader enforcement tactics.
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