Contra-ICE Vol. 1: Musicians and friends respond to immigration crackdown

Tucked into the back of historic Los Angeles bar La Cita, Dali Colorado gathered musicians, organizers, local businesses and community members for the official release party of Contra-ICE Vol.1 on Oct. 3.

Contra-ICE Vol.1: ICE OUT is a sonic compilation of music and spoken word created in response to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The project brings together artists from all walks of life, some of whom donated songs or created new ones, to support families affected by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), turning a collection of songs into a broader effort to raise awareness and build solidarity with immigrant communities.

Born from Urgency

For Colorado, founder of Contra-ICE and CEO of the Build Art Make Change non-profit, the project grew out of a sense of urgency after President Trump’s second election and the current political turmoil surrounding ICE.

“My best friend Ulises Bella of Ozomatli and I grew up during the Reagan and Bush eras,” Colorado said. “There was so much incredible music and art that came out of those [times] of political uncertainty.”

Inspired in part by “Red Hot + Blue” (1990), one of the first benefit albums released to raise awareness and funds for AIDS-related causes, Colorado envisioned a similar compilation that could bring musicians together around a shared purpose.

“One of the things that has always resonated with me was the ‘Red Hot + Blue’ album,” Colorado said. “My whole thing was like, let’s put a compilation album together. Silence equals death.”

Building the Compilation

What followed was a collaborative effort assembled from the ground up, without the resources of a major record label. Artists contributed tracks and original works, while volunteers and professionals helped bring the project to fruition.

“Something like this would have normally taken, if you had a major record deal, two years … but we have lawyers, volunteers. Everything was done [by] ourselves,” Colorado said. “I think that’s what I really want people to understand. The urgency was there for everybody to come together and do something like this because no one was doing it.”

The speed of the project’s development reflected a shared spark, the desire among its contributors to respond to the political movement. According to Colorado, being an artist herself, people who joined the effort were already looking for ways to turn their concerns into action.

As mentioned, Bella of Grammy-winning Chicano rock band Ozomatli, encouraged her to reach out to her network and see who would be willing to participate. The response revealed a whole community of artists and organizers eager to contribute their skills to the cause. For musicians involved in the compilation, that opportunity offered a way to connect their art with the current political landscape, with a cause beyond the recording studio.

The Artists

Musician Daniel French, singer of the track “Arauco Tiene Una Pena” on the album, said his friend Pilar Diaz of Los Abandoned and Maria del Pilar encouraged him to contribute the song to the album. He welcomed the opportunity to participate in this collective effort with open arms.

“My hope is to use music to wake people up to help them feel their humanity again. If you listen to my song, [which is] in Mohawk and in Spanish, [I] talk about the importance of standing up for our dreams,” French said. “That little child who’s in a detention center right now has a dream … Now that might mean we have to fight, but it also means that we can build community.”

For French, everybody has the capacity to contribute to change in different ways. Whether through public demonstrations, contacting elected representatives, offering small acts of kindness to their neighbors or even just listening to the voices of those who aren’t allowed to stand up for themselves.

“Every single person can be something. If you see what’s happening and you see something wrong, whether that be what happened at Cornell, whether it’s what happens to immigrants every day, we all have something in us to interrupt the cycle of violence,” French said.

For vocalist Gretchen Parlato, singer of “Call in the Angels,” joining the project was an immediate decision. A longtime friend of Colorado, she said the compilation offered a meaningful way for artists to unite around a common cause. Initially, the project felt personal for Parlato, then it evolved into an opportunity to support those whose voices needed to be heard.

“I think people could, on one hand, just listen and be really inspired musically and artistically. But also realize that their art can connect with what’s happening in the world and make a difference,” Parlato said. “It takes all of us. As just one [person], you can easily fall into feeling very hopeless in this fight. But as a collective, we can do this together.”

Pilar Diaz, singer of tracks “Suena La Alarma” and “Original Dreamers,” similarly sees music as a reflection of society and the experiences of the people living through it.

“I think as artists we’re always looking for a place to use our art as a mirror,” Diaz said. “Music is such a mirror of what people are feeling, of what society is going through… Music has always been a part of history.”

Although the songs Diaz contributed were written before the compilation was conceived, she said they still aligned with its mission of supporting immigrants. She also emphasized the importance of bringing attention to organizations already working to protect immigrant communities.

“I hope people get to see just how many people who are concerned, outraged, and fed up with what ICE is doing to our community, to the immigrants that are here to work, to provide [for their families] and to have a better life,” Diaz said.

Advocacy Partners

Among the organizations involved with Contra-ICE are Union Del Barrio and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), both of which advocate for the rights and well-being of day laborers, immigrants and other low-wage workers.

The project’s support for NDLON carries a particularly local significance. NDLON oversees the Pasadena Community Job Center, whose director, Jose Madera, was detained by Pasadena police on Jan. 7, 2026. Madera said he was following an unmarked vehicle he believed to be driven by ICE agents. Police then stopped him and accused him of running red lights. Accounts differ on the charge: one report says he was cited for a traffic violation, while Madera says the citation was for obstructing. He was released the same day. Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said police pledged a full investigation. No court outcome has been reported. The incident prompted renewed conversations among Pasadena residents about the local law enforcement’s relationship with federal immigration authorities.

Timothy Coultas, an NDLON representative, described the collaboration as an opportunity for organizations with shared goals to work together in solidarity.

“[NDLON] are all about protecting the community they’re trying to uplift … I feel like being a part of this, both for myself and the company, is a great way to bring a lot of awareness to it because many people still don’t think that things are going on or that it’s still happening,” Coultas said.

Coultas added that participating in the project offered a way to raise awareness among people who might not realize the extent of this administration’s immigration enforcement methods or their continued effects on communities.

Local Businesses and Donated Support

The effort extended beyond the musicians and advocacy organizations. Local businesses and vendors also contributed products and refreshments to support the release party.

Patricia Nelson of Banter Girl PR said many participating businesses came from Boyle Heights and surrounding communities. Despite the financial challenges of donating products for free, businesses contributed in support of the cause. The event included contributions from vendors and organizations such as Pizzanista, Pocket Punch, SadGirlCreamery and more.

For Colorado, these contributions reflect the project’s broader impact. While a compilation album can raise awareness, the community it builds gives people a chance to connect with others and share their stories.

“All the artists that are playing tonight are not getting paid. I don’t get paid. No one’s getting paid,” Colorado said. “We’re all donation-based, and all the donations we’ve gotten go to merchandise and putting out the records. But, again, I think everybody coming together and having a good time is really important during times like these.”

A Labor of Love

The work behind Contra-ICE has relied on donated music, volunteer labor and contributions from people willing to share their resources. Through and through, this event was a true labor of love for everyone involved.

Following October’s No Kings protests, which brought together demonstrators across the country, the project offers another example of how people can respond to political uncertainty and resist injustice by gathering, creating and supporting their communities.

Additionally, as California approaches the Nov. 3 general election, conversations with artists like French remind us that meaningful action does not always require knowing what comes next. Whether through music, community organizing, or simply showing up for others, people can always find ways to contribute to change.

“We can’t control things, but what we can do is try,” French said.