Rapper Nicki Minaj has returned to the public eye after a 2018 Facebook post resurfaced , in which she recounted arriving in the United States "as an illegal immigrant at the age of five." The post, written in the context of the family separation policy then implemented by the Trump administration, was shared again on social media, coinciding with the artist's recent public support for the president and her participation in conservative events.
In that 2018 message, Minaj wrote: "I came to the United States as an illegal immigrant when I was five years old. I can't imagine the horror of being in a foreign country and being separated from your parents. Please stop this," in direct reference to the policy of separating migrant families at the southern border. The post was cited at the time by media outlets such as Univision and resurfaced this month on platforms like X and Facebook, without the artist having denied its authenticity.
Nicki Minaj was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
The new political context surrounding Minaj solidified after her appearance at AmericaFest , the annual conference organized by Turning Point USA , a conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk . During a conversation on stage, Minaj openly praised Trump and Vice President JD Vance. According to People, the rapper stated, "I have a lot of respect for President Trump and what he's done. A lot of people don't feel represented, and he's given them a voice." The statements were widely reported by attendees and American media outlets.
Nicki Minaj & Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA AmFest 2025 Full Segment pic.twitter.com/J7gIbkoXCS
— ONIKA LIVE (@ONIKALIVE) December 21, 2025
The combination of that political support and the resurgence of her immigration story sparked documented reactions on social media and digital activism platforms . A petition published on Change.org titled "Deport Nicki Minaj" garnered tens of thousands of signatures in a matter of days, according to Billboard, with arguments pointing out the contradiction between her personal history and her support for a political agenda associated with more restrictive immigration policies.
Days after her performance at AmericaFest and a surge in criticism, Minaj deactivated her Instagram account , People confirmed. The artist did not issue a formal statement explaining the decision nor did she directly respond to the deportation request. Her X account remained active, where she continued to interact with fans and critics.
So far, Nicki Minaj has not publicly clarified how she reconciles her personal experience as an immigrant with her support for Trump, nor has she made any recent statements regarding current ICE policies . The episode is documented by verifiable facts: a resurfaced old message, recent public statements, quantifiable reactions on digital platforms, and a temporary withdrawal from social media, with no evidence of legal or immigration consequences for the artist.
