Kacey Musgraves Uses Concert Stage to Support Organization Aiding Children of Deported Immigrants

Eight-time Grammy Award winner Kacey Musgraves interrupted the opening night of her “Middle of Nowhere” tour Friday at Chicago’s United Center to encourage attendees to contribute to the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, framing the donation as her birthday wish. The country music star described the Chicago-based organization as instrumental in providing legal assistance and financial support to minors whose parents have been removed from the country through deportation proceedings.

The Young Center works to pair volunteer attorneys and social workers with unaccompanied and separated immigrant youth currently held in government detention facilities. The organization prioritizes family reunification, securing children’s release from custody, ensuring due process protections and advancing what it deems to be in each child’s best interest, according to its mission statement.

Last year, the nonprofit reported serving 1,975 children representing 53 nations and establishing 1,388 new cases. The organization’s 2025 annual report indicated that children’s average time in detention nearly tripled to 198 days from 30 days, while requests for assistance from detained parents quadrupled compared to the prior year.

Musgraves’ backing of the charity extends beyond her concert plea. In April, resale platform Depop announced that 20 pieces from her personal wardrobe would be offered through capsule drops, with all revenue directed to the Young Center, according to Women’s Wear Daily.

The singer also invited three brothers aged 12, 14 and 18 who perform as a mariachi group to serve as opening acts at three Texas shows scheduled for May. The family, which had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was released after entering through the now-defunct CBP One appointment system in 2023 while seeking asylum from violence in Mexico, KSAT reported.

The Department of Homeland Security countered that the family had crossed the border illegally and was released under the Biden administration. A DHS spokesperson asserted that federal statute requires detention of individuals without proper entry documentation while their immigration claims are adjudicated.

Musgraves’ advocacy emerges as ICE enforcement activities have surged to unprecedented levels. Federal sources told Fox News Digital that immigration agents executed approximately 51,000 arrests in July, surpassing the previous record of roughly 43,000 in June.

The North American arena tour, featuring Midland as the primary opening act, continues through October. Requests for comment from Musgraves, the Young Center, Depop and DHS yielded no immediate responses.