OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE: 10/16
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PREVIOUSLY:
“Innocent Criminals” is a song that focuses on the situation we find ourselves in currently as a nation, especially as it pertains to the ICE raids happening across the country. Joshua focuses on the sometimes inhumane nature of humans in times of desperation and the hard truth in which we can all be to blame when terror strikes.
In the last decade, I’ve been digesting the dumpster fire America has lit. All the changes in policy and relations both domestic and globally. Changes in infrastructure, and in how we communicate and treat each other – from mainstream media, down to the stranger at the gas station. Of course there are problems all over the world, and we can’t disregard our collective responsibility to pull focus on these matters and help out however we can. But what’s happening on a national level is impacting everyone day in and day out. I’ve seen ICE raids happen in big cities, and in small towns. Everywhere I go there has been an unlawful arrest, brutal beating, and of course people are being killed.
This is a human problem, not a political one. This is person to person, day to day life. We are complicit if we don’t do something, say something, help out where we can. Because, of all the trouble in the world, this one lives in our cities, our towns, our neighborhoods, our streets, our front yards. So we have a responsibility to respond and take part in standing up for our community.
The point of this song is that no one is innocent in this situation. If you don’t speak about your concern, you aren’t helping, you aren’t protecting your neighbor. It takes the whole village to protect the few that are being attacked– you can’t just turn and look away.
Music Video: SPEAK UP. LISTEN. BE HEARD.
The music video for the song is a “found footage” feature, pulling from articles and stories that I’ve seen, and I searched out to identify past, and current issues as a result of these raids and administration policies. Taken directly from the news stories, and personal stories of some of my own friends and relations, I wanted to show the impact this is still having on our communities today. This isn’t in the past, it’s current and it needs stay top of mind.
I’m hoping this song and video will impact folks that needs to see it, peak the interest of those that may not be paying as much attention. As much as some news outlets will have you believe the people that are being detained, deported, targeted – ICE enforcement is not about law enforcement as much as it’s about targeting demographics of people that in too many cases are not criminals. If you know anyone personally that has been deported or hurt by an ICE raid, you have likely seen this reality.
Again, this is not a political issue, it’s a human issue.
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One of the inspiring stories for me that solidified my interest in releasing this song:
The 3rd act of this show is about about the detention center, CoreCivic. Although they denied all the allegations of how poor the conditions are now, quote:
“There have been reports for decades about inhumane living conditions and poor medical care at Otay Mesa and other ICE detention facilities. But these problems have gotten a lot worse since President Trump returned to office, because the number of people in detention has increased so dramatically, things like overcrowding, not getting enough food, or getting food that’s spoiled, also, physical and verbal abuse from guards. One of the biggest issues right now– detainees needing medical treatment and not getting it.
Over the past year, the death rate in ICE custody has more than doubled compared to recent years, more than 50 people since President Trump came back to office. One of them was a Haitian man named Emmanuel Damas. He went into septic shock from a toothache.
It’s worth noting that most people in ICE detention facilities do not have a criminal record. Crossing the border illegally or overstaying a visa is not a criminal offense. It’s a civil violation. And immigration detention is not supposed to be punitive like a prison. Many immigration lawyers believe the administration is trying to wear people down by holding them for long periods in these harsh conditions, so they’ll give up on their cases and agree to deportation.”
Music Video References
- This American Life – https://www.thisamericanlife.org/889/transcript
- LA TACO – https://lataco.com/captive-lotion-bottle-note
- Chicago Mayor – facebook.com/reel/2647692179023021/
- Karen Bass LA – https://www.facebook.com/reel/1400965748639896
- Nashville Noticias
- https://www.facebook.com/reel/1447114573235266
- CGTN America
- BLOOMBERG / North Carolina – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/the-economic-cost-of-ice-raids-ugcPost-7492938192938258432-osaf/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAASWQg4Byk9H9ik0PixFT4iipyIrxYWgHSw
- NBC NEWS – https://www.facebook.com/reel/1329495368765374
- PBS News
This single will be released to all platforms on October 16th, 2026.
