ICE facing backlash for using viral Jet2 sound in deportation video
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is facing backlash after posting a video on social media that appeared to mock undocumented migrants being deported, using a viral sound from a British holiday advert.
The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), shows handcuffed individuals being escorted by blurred ICE officers onto a GlobalX flight, an airline commonly contracted by the agency.
The post was captioned, “When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!”, a reference to the well-known Jet2 Holidays jingle, often used in light-hearted content.
Social media users quickly voiced their outrage, with some tagging Jet2 and asking whether the airline endorsed the tone of the post. Others labelled the video “disgusting” and accused ICE of dehumanising vulnerable people.
“I had to triple check the account name. Unreal,” one user wrote on X.
“This is gross. I’m for deportation but this feels yuck,” another said.
“Sorry but social media has ruined politics. Is anything serious anymore? This is vile. These are people,” another user added.
The controversy comes amid a renewed crackdown on immigration under President Donald Trump’s administration.
According to The Independent, the president recently signed off on a sweeping immigration enforcement plan allocating US$170 billion over several years, including US$45 billion for detention operations. ICE is expected to receive a US$76.5 billion increase in funding over five years, nearly 10 times its current annual budget, the report said.
