Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny blames ICE raids for his lack of touring in the United States. The singer fears that ICE would purposely target his fans at his concerts, and put them in a position where they could be deported.
This weekend, Bad Bunny is set to finish his Puerto Rico residency, which has been going on for 30 consecutive days at the coliseum in San Juan, the Puerto Rican capital. He chose to do a residency in his home island instead of touring the U.S.
Bad Bunny said the fact that ICE may be waiting outside his concerts was ‘extremley worrying’
In an interview with i-D, the reggaeton superstar — whose real name is Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio — was asked if the decision not to tour the U.S. had to do with his own worries regarding President Trump’s escalation in ICE raids and deportations in the last few months, to what he answered “sincerely, yes.”
Bad Bunny said: “There were many reasons why I didn’t tour the U.S., and none of them were related to hate. I have performed in the U.S. many times, and the shows have been incredible. I have enjoyed them with the Latinos that live in the United States.”
He then explained the significance behind his decision to do a residency in Puerto Rico. “But specifically, with this residency in Puerto Rico, we are an unincorporated territory of the U.S., people from the U.S. can come here to see the show,” he said, adding: “Latinos and Puerto Ricans from the U.S. can also travel here, or anywhere else in the world.”
In June, Bad Bunny shared a video of an ICE raid taking place in Puerto Rico, where he criticized ICE agents, calling them ‘morons.’ “Additionally, he posted on his Instagram stories a video showing agents alongside SUVs with flashing blue lights, which appeared to have been filmed by him.
In the video, whose caption reads ‘ICE,’ he can be heard saying in Spanish: ‘Look, those sons of b**** are in these cars, RAV-4s. They’re here in Pontezuela. Sons of b****, instead of leaving the people in peace and working over there.’”