Martha Stewart Criticizes ICE Activity in Her Town

The lifestyle icon compared the agency's presence to living under the dystopian regime of '1984's "Big Brother".

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Lifestyle icon Martha Stewart expressed dismay over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in her town of Bedford, New York, saying it feels like living under the dystopian regime of '1984's "Big Brother". Stewart told USA Today she is "not happy" with President Trump's immigration raids and that receiving a notice about ICE being in local schools is "extremely depressing". The TV personality also condemned law enforcement crackdowns on what she called "peaceful demonstrations" in a social media post.

Why it matters

Stewart's comments highlight growing concerns among some Americans about increased immigration enforcement and its impact on local communities, as well as tensions around the right to protest. Her high-profile criticism of ICE adds to the ongoing national debate over immigration policy and civil liberties.

The details

In her interview, Stewart said she normally considers herself "an extremely optimistic person" but is "feeling a little bit down" about the ICE activity in her town. She said receiving a notice that ICE was in the local schools was "extremely depressing" and described the situation as "crazy" and akin to living under the oppressive "Big Brother" surveillance state depicted in George Orwell's novel '1984'. Stewart also condemned law enforcement crackdowns on what she claimed were "peaceful demonstrations" in a social media post, saying immigrants "are unwelcome" and that protesters "can be attacked and even killed by Federal troops".

  • On February 10, 2026, Martha Stewart spoke out about ICE activity in her town of Bedford, New York.

The players

Martha Stewart

A lifestyle icon and television personality who expressed dismay over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in her town.

President Donald Trump

The president at the time who Stewart criticized for his administration's immigration raids.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency that Stewart said was present in the schools in her town of Bedford, New York.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not happy with what's going on with immigration. We got a notice in my town of Bedford, NY, that ICE was in the schools. That's extremely depressing. And this is a beautiful suburban town, an hour from New York City. It's crazy. 'Big Brother' watching is not an easy way to live.”

— Martha Stewart, Lifestyle Icon (USA Today)

“We are told immigrants – which most of us are or descended from – are unwelcome, that we cannot show our frustration in peaceful demonstrations and that we can be attacked and even killed by Federal troops.”

— Martha Stewart (Social Media Post)

The takeaway

Martha Stewart's high-profile criticism of ICE's presence in her community and her condemnation of crackdowns on peaceful protests reflect growing concerns among some Americans about increased immigration enforcement and the erosion of civil liberties. Her comments add to the ongoing national debate over these issues.