The Tongva tribe of Southern California issued a public response this week following comments made by singer Billie Eilish during the Grammy Awards, where she criticized immigration enforcement and declared that “no one is illegal on stolen land.”
Eilish, 24, made the remarks Sunday night while accepting the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.
During her acceptance speech, she wore an “ICE OUT” pin and addressed immigration policy, border enforcement, and activism.
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“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said.
“I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
She continued with a direct condemnation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, adding, “And f**k ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say, sorry.”
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The comments immediately generated backlash online and across media outlets, with critics noting that Eilish owns a multimillion-dollar home in Los Angeles located on land historically inhabited by the Tongva people, a Native American nation whose ancestral territory includes much of the greater Los Angeles Basin.
On Tuesday, the Tongva tribe confirmed that Eilish’s property is located on what the tribe considers ancestral land. In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, the tribe addressed Eilish’s remarks and clarified its position.
“We appreciate the opportunity to provide clarity regarding the recent comments made by Billie Eilish,” the statement read.
“As the First People of the greater Los Angeles basin, we do understand that her home is situated in our ancestral land. Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property, we do value the instance when Public Figures provide visibility to the true history of this country.”
The tribe said that while Eilish has not personally reached out regarding her property, representatives of the Tongva people have taken steps to engage her team following the speech.
The statement continued, “We have reached out to her team to express our appreciation for her comments. It is our hope that in future discussions, the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles basin remains Gabrieleno Tongva territory.”
The Tongva, also known as the Gabrieleno Tongva, are recognized as the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding regions.
Eilish’s Grammy speech came amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement and the role of ICE under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Immigration policy has remained a flashpoint issue, particularly among progressive activists and celebrities who have used public platforms to criticize enforcement agencies.
Eilish was not the only artist to reference immigration during the Grammy ceremony. Several performers and award recipients incorporated political messaging into their remarks, including Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny.
While accepting the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album, Bad Bunny echoed similar themes.
“ICE out,” Bad Bunny said.
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens — we are humans, and we are Americans.”
The comments from Eilish and other performers were widely shared across social media and news platforms, drawing both praise and criticism.
Supporters applauded the artists for using the Grammy stage to address political issues, while critics questioned the accuracy and implications of the statements, particularly those related to land ownership and historical claims.
The Tongva tribe’s response marked one of the first formal statements from a Native American group directly addressing Eilish’s remarks.
While the tribe acknowledged the visibility her comments brought to Indigenous history, it also emphasized the importance of explicitly recognizing the Tongva people when discussing land in the Los Angeles area.
As of Tuesday, Eilish had not issued a public response to the tribe’s statement, nor had her representatives commented on whether further engagement with the Tongva community would take place.
The Grammy Awards were held Sunday night and broadcast nationally, reaching millions of viewers.
Immigration and border enforcement remained a recurring theme throughout the event, reflecting the ongoing role of entertainment platforms in national political discussions.
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