Filmmaker Spike Lee said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not be welcome at celebrations for the New York Knicks if the basketball team claims victory in the NBA Finals.
“If the Knicks, when we win, whether it’s home or away, there’s going to be such — it’s going to be bananas, it’s going to be craziness, it’s going to be love and NYPD can’t control that, the Marines, National Guard. Just don’t bring in the motherf—ing ICE, no ICE. I’ve said this more than once, ICE is not welcome,” Lee said in an interview with the outlet Andscape posted Sunday on YouTube.
Within the last year, ICE and its parent department, the Department of Homeland Security, have been under heavy scrutiny as they carry out President Trump’s strict immigration agenda, particularly after the federal immigration authorities killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis in January.
The Knicks are leading 2-1 in a best-of-seven series, needing just two more wins to notch a championship against the San Antonio Spurs. New York won the first two games, and San Antonio won Game 3. Game 4 kicks off at 8:30 p.m. EDT Wednesday.
On Monday, President Trump attended Game 3 of the finals at the invitation of Knicks owner James Dolan. Trump’s visit to Madison Square Garden resulted in increased security measures, including the axing of a watch party outside the arena.
