Kim Kardashian Called Out For 'Performative' Criminal Justice Advocacy Until 'ICE Came To Town'

Kim Kardashian's shifting stance on criminal justice and immigration enforcement has drawn sharp criticism, with detractors accusing the celebrity of prioritising optics over substantive reform until her comments on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brought the issue to a boil.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star, who has spent years in the public eye advocating for criminal justice reform, found herself at the centre of a heated political dispute in mid-2025 after she publicly condemned ICE raids in Los Angeles as 'inhumane' and urged a more compassionate approach to immigration enforcement. This marked a departure from past collaborations with Republican figures and sparked claims that her activism lacks consistency and depth.

Her critics, ranging from right-wing government officials to commentators on social media, describe her advocacy as 'performative,' arguing that Kardashian's interventions are timed for maximum media impact rather than sustained policy engagement.

Criticism Peaks With ICE Clash

In June 2025, Kardashian took to Instagram Stories to decry a series of ICE operations that targeted undocumented workers in Los Angeles, describing the removal of immigrants from their families as 'inhumane' and urging followers to 'speak up' against what she characterised as unjust practices.

The statement came amid several days of protests in the city, with federal immigration enforcement actions triggering clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials also criticised the raids, further amplifying the dispute.

However, the backlash was swift. Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Tricia McLaughlin publicly challenged Kardashian's position, posting on social media what she said were mugshots of four immigrants apprehended during ICE operations, asking sarcastically: 'Which one of these convicted child molesters, murderers, drug traffickers and rapists would you like to stay in the county?'

McLaughlin's comments underscored a broader critique from law enforcement officials and conservative commentators that Kardashian was defending criminal elements over public safety. The rhetoric illustrated how polarised the immigration debate has become, and positioned Kardashian, a figure better known for reality television than policy expertise, at the centre of it.

A History of Criminal Justice Advocacy

Kardashian's engagement with criminal justice issues predates the ICE controversy by several years. Her advocacy entered the national spotlight in 2018, when she successfully lobbied then-President Donald Trump to commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a woman serving life without parole for a first-time, nonviolent drug offence. The case catalysed Kardashian's reform profile and continued involvement with high-profile clemency efforts.

Following that success, Kardashian immersed herself in criminal justice issues, undertaking an apprenticeship under established lawyers, studying law, and participating in discussions with policymakers and advocacy groups. In December 2025, she celebrated her graduation from law school after six years of study, a milestone she and allies characterised as evidence of her serious commitment to the cause.

Yet even as she marked academic achievement, questions about her motivations resurfaced. During a televised appearance, Kardashian jokingly referred to her six-year educational journey as potentially the 'most genius PR stunt of all time', though she insisted that her motivations were genuine.

Among observers, this comment was seized upon by critics as symptomatic of deeper concerns about her approach, that Kardashian's high-visibility advocacy may serve personal branding as much as systemic change.

Debate Over Authenticity and Impact

The controversy over her ICE remarks has sharpened long-standing debates about whether Kardashian's advocacy is authentic or self-serving. Supporters argue that her celebrity amplifies underserved voices and attracts attention to systemic inequities, enabling cases that would otherwise go unnoticed to receive legal scrutiny.

Yet detractors argue that Kardashian's focus often gravitates toward high-profile, media-friendly cases, while broader systemic issues, such as mass incarceration, bail reform and comprehensive immigration policy, receive comparatively little sustained attention. They label her interventions selective and timed for visibility rather than structural impact.

Public discussions about Kardashian's advocacy have spilled onto social media platforms, with some users describing her efforts as image-driven and noting that celebrity involvement can overshadow grassroots organisations and the work of dedicated legal professionals.

These critiques, while coming from a mix of voices, reflect a broader scepticism about celebrity activism in complex policy spaces where expertise and long-term engagement are critical.