Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega denounced the violence and abuses of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during the Sundance Film Festival, at a time of national protests and tension following a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis.
“This is a really devastating time for our country. The federal government, and ICE in particular, is being very abusive and totalitarian. It’s absolutely outrageous and it has to stop,” Portman, who wore a pin with the phrase “out ICE,” and was visibly affected by the situation, told EFE.
Natalie Portman criticizes ICE
Natalie Portman: “What’s going on in our country right now is absolutely horrific with what the federal government, Trump’s government, Kristi Noem, ICE, what they’re doing is really the worst of the worst of humanity. We also have the best of the best of humanity for the way… pic.twitter.com/4wqgrzJOc0
– Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) January 25, 2026
On Saturday, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. nurse, was killed by federal immigration agents in the U.S. city of Minneapolis after trying to get between immigration agents and citizens protesting their operations.
“It’s hard to be in a place like this (Sundance) with these beautiful outfits and talking about cinema, when something so horrible is happening right next to us,” Mexican-American actress Jenna Ortega, who along with Portman is at the film festival held in Park City, Utah, to present her film ‘The Gallerist’, told EFE.
The Department of Homeland Security, in charge of immigration operations, has assured that Pretti was carrying a semi-automatic weapon and magazines; however, videos published on the internet from different angles do not support this version.
“The lack of any real resolution or any kind of sanction against the agents is incredibly frightening and disappointing to see from our government,” Ortega added.
Pretti’s death represents the second such incident in less than three weeks in the Minnesota city, where on January 7 a woman, Renee Good, was shot and killed by an ICE officer, sparking a wave of protests and criticism over the use of force by federal authorities.
Nevertheless, both Portman and Ortega expressed their pride in the citizen mobilization.
“It feels like American citizens right now are the best people in the world, supporting each other, their neighbors, their community and defending their freedom,” said the ‘Black Swan’ actress.
On Saturday night the actresses presented ‘The Gallerist’, by director Cathy Yan (‘Birds of Prey’), along with British star Charli XCX, who this year was also part of films such as ‘The Moment’ or ‘I Want Your Sex’.
The film is a black comedy thriller that follows Polina Polinski (Portman), an ambitious art gallery owner struggling to stand out in the competitive contemporary art world.
The Sundance Film Festival will continue its programming through February 1.
This is its last edition in Park City before moving to Boulder, Colorado, after more than 40 years of history in the small mountain town.
Filed under: Natalie Portman criticizes ICE
With information from EFE
