Oakland’s Kehlani wins two Grammys for “Folded” and denounces ICE amid expanding protests

Two first-time Grammy wins become a high-profile political moment

Oakland singer Kehlani used their first Grammy victories on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, to deliver a pointed message about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as protests against federal immigration enforcement continued to spread across multiple cities.

Kehlani won Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for “Folded,” a 2025 single, during the pre-televised Grammy Premiere Ceremony held in Los Angeles ahead of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards broadcast. During an onstage acceptance speech, Kehlani referenced being nominated a decade earlier and urged artists to speak collectively about current events, closing with an explicit condemnation of ICE.

Kehlani also appeared wearing an “ICE Out” pin, reinforcing the political message visually while accepting the awards.

Protests tied to Minneapolis shootings and intensified enforcement scrutiny

The remarks came during a period of heightened national attention on immigration enforcement tactics. In Minneapolis, two fatal shootings in January were widely cited by protest organizers as catalysts for larger demonstrations and new volunteer efforts aimed at monitoring federal activity.

• On Jan. 7, 2026, Renée Good, described in public reports as a poet and mother of three, was fatally shot during an encounter involving federal immigration agents.
• On Jan. 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, identified in reporting as a nurse, was also killed during a separate incident involving federal agents.

Following the deaths, organizers in Minnesota reported a surge in sign-ups for observer trainings designed to document enforcement actions and support immigrants and immigrant-owned businesses. Federal officials, meanwhile, publicly warned that interference with immigration operations could trigger criminal enforcement, and federal prosecutors announced charges in connection with some protest activity.

Artists’ speeches increasingly intersect with national policy disputes

Kehlani’s comments fit into a broader pattern of entertainers using major awards stages to address government policy and civic unrest. Similar dynamics have played out at other televised events in recent years, as some performers and presenters have used acceptance speeches to call attention to law enforcement practices, immigration raids, and public demonstrations.

Local significance for the Bay Area

For Oakland and the wider Bay Area, Kehlani’s wins mark a career milestone for an artist long associated with the region’s contemporary R&B scene. The moment also underscores how national debates over immigration enforcement are being reflected in cultural institutions and high-visibility broadcasts, where artists can reach audiences far beyond traditional political forums.

Kehlani’s speech and “ICE Out” pin placed immigration enforcement at the center of one of music’s most watched weekends, as protests and federal responses continued to evolve in real time.