Actor and Los Angeles restaurateur Danny Trejo has publicly distanced himself from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after facing intense criticism for his involvement in the upcoming film “Pawn Shop,” a production from conservative commentator Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire.
Trejo, known for his tough-guy roles in films like “Desperado” and “Machete,” took to Instagram on Friday to clarify his position. “I am a proud Mexican who has always been and will always be a supporter of my community. I am also obviously pro-immigrant,” he wrote. “I am not pro-ICE. I know where I come from and I know our struggles.”
The controversy stems from the film’s plot, which centers on a young ICE officer who must complete a high-stakes arrest alone after his partner is killed during a Minneapolis riot. The official synopsis describes the officer being hunted by a “furious mob” and eventually barricading himself in a pawn shop with a “hard-edged Hispanic veteran” — played by Trejo — and the veteran’s progressive grandson. The story forces the characters to choose between “the rule of law and the chaos that wants to burn it all down.”
Trejo’s son, actor Gilbert Trejo, also addressed the backlash online, revealing that his father was unaware of Shapiro’s involvement when he signed on. “About two weeks into shooting, everyone, including us, found out Ben Shapiro was involved,” Gilbert wrote in a post shared by the San Fernando Sun/El Sol. “My 82-year-old dad has never heard of Ben Shapiro, I had to explain to him who that is, and what kind of guy he is.”
Gilbert added that his father is contractually obligated to finish the film and cannot speak out against Shapiro or the project without risking a lawsuit. “He’s handcuffed to this stupid project, and swaths of people have instantly turned their back on him without knowing any of the facts,” he wrote. “Ben Shapiro got Mexicans to abandon one of their heroes, got his own name to the top of Google’s searches and made us look like angry fools lacking any nuance. He wins.”
Production resumed in Livingston, Mont., on Monday after a brief pause prompted by complaints from local residents about the film’s impact on a nearby food bank and inadequate warnings about stunts. Shapiro decried the halt as “content discrimination.”
Trejo told TMZ that he was drawn to the role because it offered a positive portrayal of a Latino veteran. In a separate statement, he emphasized that his job as an actor “is to tell a story.”
The film has also drawn scrutiny for a scene that appears to recreate the death of Renee Good, a Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen killed by ICE officers in January amid protests against President Trump’s deportation operations. TMZ obtained video of the scene being filmed.
Trejo has long been a fixture in Southern California, operating a chain of successful restaurants and a coffee shop in Los Angeles. He is also an advocate for addiction recovery, veterans’ causes, and animal welfare organizations. The backlash he now faces underscores the political fault lines that can ensnare public figures, even those with deep community ties. As the 2026 midterms approach, cultural flashpoints like this film are likely to remain potent, with both parties eager to mobilize their bases. For Trejo, the episode is a stark reminder that in today’s polarized climate, even a fictional role can carry real-world consequences.
