Lifestyle icon Martha Stewart expressed her concerns on Saturday about the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in her community, stating she feels as though she is living in a dystopian situation.
Stewart, who generally sees herself as “very optimistic,” shared that she feels “a little depressed” regarding the immigration raids under President Donald Trump. She spoke to reporters at a Pepsi Co. event called “Bay Area Local Eats” during Super Bowl week in San Francisco.
“I’m unhappy with the current state of immigration,” she remarked. “I recently heard that ICE is active in the schools in my town of Bedford, New York. It’s quite disheartening. We live in a lovely suburban area just an hour away from New York City. It all feels a bit crazy. Living under such surveillance is not comforting.”
She referred to the concept of “Big Brother,” drawn from George Orwell’s novel “1984,” which depicts a totalitarian regime that constantly watches over its citizens.
Stewart stated, “I don’t intend to delve too deeply into politics or criticize anyone in particular.” She acknowledged the beauty of America and emphasized the importance of maintaining that sense of beauty in life.
On social media, she has criticized law enforcement for their harsh responses to what she describes as “peaceful demonstrations.”
“I feel disappointment and sadness daily over the lack of compassion for those who have been through so much,” she continued. “We’re being told that immigrants—many of whom are us or our descendants—aren’t welcome and cannot express their concerns peacefully. It’s distressing to see how federal forces can turn violent.”
While at the event, Stewart praised Pepsi for its support of local businesses, but she also noted the struggles restaurants face due to the current economic climate. “Costs are incredibly high,” she said, highlighting instances where substantial bills resulted in negligible profits after all expenses. “That was their profit after labor, food, rent, and everything else.”
Efforts to contact ICE for a response went unanswered.
