Kid Rock responds to restaurant ICE raid reports
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Billal Rahman is an immigration reporter based in London, U.K. He specializes in immigration policy and border security. He has uncovered allegations of misconduct among border agents under investigation and exposed claims of abuse at ICE-run detention centers in the U.S. He joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Independent. He has covered the British Post Office scandal and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Originally from Glasgow, he studied Journalism in Edinburgh and then worked for STV News before moving to London in 2022. You can contact Billal at b.rahman@newsweek.com.
Immigration Reporter
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Kid Rock has said he is not involved in "day to day operations" at his Nashville restaurant, where workers without legal status were reportedly shielded from immigration agents earlier this month.
Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N' Roll Steakhouse was one of three downtown establishments to shut to help workers "avoid detention by ICE agents" during immigration raids on Saturday May 10, Nashville Scene reported last Wednesday. Kitchens also closed at The Diner and Honky Tonk Central during primetime, the newspaper said.
Kid Rock said in a social media post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday said he is not involved in running the restaurant and voiced support for ICE enforcement.
"Clearly I do not have anything to do with day to day operations at my Honky Tonk - but it's good click bait, I get it," he wrote. "That being said I 100% support getting illegal criminals out of our country no matter where they are. I also like President Trump want to speed up the process of getting GREAT immigrants into our country - LEGALLY!."
The 54-year-old, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, has been a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump. In addition to endorsing Trump during his presidential campaigns, including a performance at the 2024 Republican National Convention, he has frequently spoken out on cultural and political issues.
Last week, The Tennessean reported that a weeklong operation led by ICE's New Orleans field office resulted in the arrest of nearly 200 immigrants in the Nashville area.
This breaking news story will be updated.
