Springsteen's ICE Protest Song Tops US Music Charts

Bruce Springsteen's new track 'Streets of Minneapolis' was the highest-selling song in the US last week.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 5:15pm

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Bruce Springsteen's protest song criticizing the tactics of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become the top-selling song in the United States. The track, titled 'Streets of Minneapolis,' sold 16,000 downloads in the last week of January, taking the number one spot on Billboard's digital song sales chart.

Why it matters

Springsteen is a prominent critic of the Trump administration, and his new song directly condemns the 'state terror' tactics of ICE, particularly in the wake of two recent fatal shootings involving federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis. The song's commercial success reflects growing public concern over the actions of immigration enforcement agencies.

The details

Springsteen's song 'Streets of Minneapolis' was released in response to the shooting deaths of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman, and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in separate incidents involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis last month. In the song, Springsteen criticizes President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and White House advisor Stephen Miller, accusing them of 'dirty lies' and 'state terror' tactics.

  • The song was released in the last week of January 2026.
  • It topped the Billboard digital song sales chart in that same week.

The players

Bruce Springsteen

A legendary American singer-songwriter who has been a frequent critic of the Trump administration and its immigration policies.

Renee Good

A 37-year-old woman who was shot and killed by a federal immigration enforcement officer in Minneapolis in January 2026.

Alex Pretti

A 37-year-old ICU nurse who was killed by a Customs and Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis in January 2026.

Kristi Noem

The current Secretary of Homeland Security.

Stephen Miller

The current White House Deputy Chief of Staff and a key architect of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

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What they’re saying

“We eagerly await Mr. Springsteen's songs dedicated to the thousands of American citizens killed by criminal illegal aliens.”

— Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary (The Hill)

“King Trump's private army from the DHS, guns belted to their coats, came to Minneapolis to enforce the law, or so their story goes.”

— Bruce Springsteen (Lyrics from 'Streets of Minneapolis')

“Trump's federal thugs beat up on his face and his chest, then we heard the gunshots and Alex Pretti lay in the snow, dead.”

— Bruce Springsteen (Lyrics from 'Streets of Minneapolis')

What’s next

Springsteen's song has sparked renewed debate over the tactics and accountability of federal immigration enforcement agencies. It remains to be seen if the song's commercial success will lead to any policy changes or investigations into the incidents in Minneapolis.

The takeaway

Springsteen's protest song has struck a chord with the public, reflecting growing concerns over the use of force by immigration authorities and the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies. The song's commercial performance underscores the political power of music to shape public discourse on divisive issues.