Cardi B, the Grammy-winning rapper, sparked controversy after a comment about the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency during her Little Miss Drama Tour in Palm Desert, California, went viral. Mid-performance, Cardi warned the audience, saying, “Bh, if ICE comes in here, we gon’ jump they as. I’ve got some bear mace in the back! They ain’t taking my fans, b***h,” according to a clip circulated online.
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The remark prompted a sharp response from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its official X account. Quoting a TMZ report of the incident, the agency wrote, “As long as she doesn’t drug and rob our agents, we’ll consider that an improvement over her past behaviour,” referencing Cardi’s prior admission of drugging and robbing men while working as an exotic dancer.
As long as she doesn’t drug and rob our agents, we’ll consider that an improvement over her past behavior. https://t.co/P9wqWk416L
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 12, 2026
Cardi B has publicly addressed that chapter of her life, emphasizing in 2019 that her actions were survival decisions and not a source of pride. “I never claimed to be perfect or come from a perfect world,” she said, adding that she does not glorify those past actions in her music.
Responding to DHS this week, Cardi redirected the conversation toward broader issues of abuse, referencing Jeffrey Epstein. “If we talking about drugs let’s talk about Epstein and friends drugging underage girls to rape them. Why y’all don’t wanna talk about the Epstein files?” she tweeted, bringing renewed attention to the massive release of court documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking network.
If we talking about drugs let’s talk about Epstein and friends drugging underage girls to rape them. Why yall don’t wanna talk about the Epstein files? https://t.co/U7yCarPIXs
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) February 12, 2026
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The ongoing Epstein disclosures have implicated high-profile figures, including former President Donald Trump, whose name reportedly appears thousands of times in the documents. The revelations have also affected the entertainment industry, with several artists severing ties with agencies connected to Epstein’s network, including Wasserman Group founder Casey Wasserman.
Cardi B’s latest remarks highlight her continued willingness to speak out on political and social issues, even in the face of criticism from federal authorities, reinforcing her reputation as a provocative and outspoken figure in hip-hop.