Zoey Deutch: ‘I Feel So Ashamed to Be an American Seeing How Our Government Is Handling’ ICE Brutality

Zoey Deutch is at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival with “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” the latest outrageous comedy from “Wet Hot American Summer” and “Wanderlust” filmmaker David Wain. But the actor got serious at the Variety Studio presented by Audible while discussing her decision to wear an “ICE Out” pin during her Sundance press tour.

“I just feel like, for me, it’s impossible not to be thinking about the state of our country and the brutality of ICE,” Deutch said. “I feel so proud to be an American, seeing the way communities and people are coming together during this time. But I feel so ashamed at the same time to be an American, seeing how our government is handling things. I just want to stand with the amazing people of Minnesota.”

Deutch was making the press rounds at Sundance just a day after a man was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis. Earlier this month, Renée Good was also killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Many stars on the ground in Sundance have been wearing “ICE Out” and “Be Good” pins and speaking out against ICE.

“We’re at a moment in our country’s history that is quite devastating. It’s really impossible not to talk about what is happening right now and the brutality of ICE and how it has to stop immediately,” Natalie Portman told Varietybefore the Sundance premiere of “The Gallerist.” “But also, there’s a beautiful community that Americans are showing right now. They’re showing up for each other, protecting each other and fighting for their freedom. It’s a bittersweet moment to celebrate something we’re so proud of on the backdrop of our nation in pain.”

Olivia Wilde told Variety on the Sundance red carpet for her latest directorial effort, “The Invite,” that she is “appalled and sickened” by ICE.

“We can’t go another day just sort of accepting this as our new norm. It’s outrageous. People are being murdered,” Wilde said. “And, I don’t want to normalize seeing people being murdered on the internet. On film. It’s hideous. And so if we can do anything out here to support the movement to cast ICE out, to delegitimize this unbelievably criminal organization, then that’s what we should be doing.”