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By Marni Rose McFall
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Influencers, celebrities, and social media users have moved online this week to share video tutorials explaining how to report and raise concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to their elected representatives, with many of the videos focusing on requesting that funding for ICE be blocked or withdrawn.
The actress Kerry Washington and influencer Chris Olsen have been among those explaining to their audience how to call their representatives, outlining what that process is like, and sharing sample scripts for the phone calls.
Why It Matters
The videos are indicative of a shift in how people, particularly younger people, are engaging with politics.
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There has been a perception that younger generations are stuck behind a screen when it comes to politics, and they have been less visible at protests than older generations. This trend indicates a shift in behavior in response to both ICE and the second Trump administration.
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Widespread protests and calls for the abolition of ICE have come in the wake of the killings of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, both of whom were killed by federal agents in Minnesota.
Their deaths have launched a conversation about ICE across the country, but their deaths aren’t the only fatalities associated with ICE. In 2025, the agency had its deadliest year in two decades, with thirty-two people dying in custody according to The Guardian. This comes amidst broader concerns over conduct, including alleged arrests without due process, arrests of children, and racial profiling.
Calls to abolish ICE are growing, as are concerns over the agency's funding. Earlier this month, the House passed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill 220-207, with seven Democrats–who have since been widely criticized–joining Republicans.
This measure would provide ICE with $10 billion within a broader spend of $64.4 billion. Calls for this measure to be rejected have intensified following Pretti’s shooting, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has said Democrats will block the funding package.
What To Know
The videos are focused on encouraging young people who do not usually make phone calls, are intimidated by calling a representative, or do not usually engage with politics in this way, to take more direct action and contact local representatives.
"These people need to hear from us, because they work for us. We pay their salaries, with our tax dollars, so let’s f****** go," Washington said in her video. "One of the most effective things you can do right now today, is calling your representative. And yes, I understand that calling a senator is maybe something you’ve never done before. Maybe it feels intimidating or pointless, but it matters, and it works."
As of reporting, her video has been viewed more than six million times.
The actress Reese Witherspoon, who starred alongside Washington in the 2020 TV show, Little Fires Everywhere, reshared the video to her Instagram story, writing "This is the action we can all take."
In his video, Olsen said, "When you call a Senator, you literally don’t actually have to talk to anyone, so for those of us who hate phone calls, like me, I’m going to show you how easy it is," Olsen said in his video. He goes on to call the senator's switchboard and explains to people viewing the video that they will connect you to whichever senator you are looking to contact.
Olsen’s representative is Schumer. He goes on to leave a message for him, where he states that ICE and says that they are "Terrorizing communities across the country, you’re elected to protect us, not fund this violence." As of reporting, his video has been viewed over a million times on TikTok.
Newsweek spoke with two content creators who have shared videos like this: Danielle Tudahl and Kate Glavan.
Glavan told Newsweek: "I feel an overwhelming responsibility to share about politics and human rights injustices with my platform. If you have a platform, you better use it to stand up for what’s right. We know that influencers hold immense power across social media platforms because influencers can potentially reach millions and encourage others to take action."
Speaking about the response to the video, she said people "felt very thrilled to have an action step that could help limit ICE funding for now, and possibly help get ICE abolished in the future. It can feel paralyzing and dystopian to scroll on our phones and watch horrific news unravel in front of our eyes. Instead of scrolling away from these awful injustices, I encourage my audience to tune in. I try my best to tell my audience ways they can get involved to support the people in Minnesota."
Tudahl, founder of the business The LA Raver, meanwhile told Newsweek over email that she had "seen people in my community sharing static infographic-style posts online sharing how to call your senators and why it matters, but I knew that most people probably wouldn’t actually pick up the phone and dial. I knew that if I showed a video of myself making a call, it would remove that mental barrier and show how easy and simple it actually was."
The creator Ben Sheehan, who creates content about politics, and Annie Wu, a digital creator who works in politics, have both shared tutorial videos, but the trend has also circulated amongst creators such as Ameya Okamato and Clara Peirce, whose content more regularly involves arts or lifestyle, reflecting how far-reaching this trend has become.
What People Are Saying
Kerry Washington, the actress, wrote in the caption of her Instagram video: "The time to take action is NOW. Let’s do it together. Because if you think what’s happening in Minneapolis cannot happen in your city or your state, IT CAN."
Glavan, speaking to Newsweek over email: "Oftentimes when political events or global issues happen, a lot of Americans feel powerless. People can tend to think they only can take action every four years to vote. There is so much work to be done all the time. It felt important to let people know that their voices mattered and if we all call our Senators, we can potentially stop this increase in ICE funding."
Danielle Tudahl, speaking to Newsweek over email: "I know that most of my followers care deeply about social issues and want to do the right thing, but not everyone knows where to start or what action looks like beyond sharing a post. I have built a large platform and community within the rave scene, and with that visibility comes a responsibility to share resources and guidance when I can, especially when the action is simple and accessible."
Clara Peirce, a creator, in a post on Instagram viewed over 300,000 times: "Call your reps & remind them who signs their checks (we do)!!!"
Ben Sheehan, a digital creator in a post on Instagram, viewed 1.5 million times: "Scared to call your senators about ICE? I get it—but I promise it’s easy! Here’s me doing it. It took 5-7 minutes to leave two VMs."
What Happens Next?
The Senate needs 60 votes to advance the DHS spending package, and GOP leaders need Democratic support for it, and odds of a government shutdown taking place in response have surged.
Update 01/28/26, 10:06 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include comment from Glavan.
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