A petition to deport rapper Nicki Minaj has surpassed 70,000 signatures, sparking fresh digital controversy around the hip-hop star’s public persona and politics. The online campaign, hosted on Change.org and titled “Deport Nicki Minaj to Trinidad,” reached the milestone this week, with supporters arguing that the artist’s recent behavior and statements make her unsuitable to remain in the United States.
The petition’s description criticizes Minaj for her support of conservative figures and attendance at a Turning Point USA event, saying her rhetoric has alienated many of her longtime fans. It also brings up her marriage to Kenneth Petty, a registered sex offender, including multiple mugshots in the petition text to underline its claims. Petition authors argue that Minaj’s actions and affiliations allegedly violate norms of public responsibility and, in their view, pose a “threat” that warrants deportation.
Support for the petition grew rapidly on social media despite the fact that such online campaigns have no direct legal force to compel deportation or government action. In the U.S., immigration enforcement and deportation decisions are governed by federal law and handled by agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, not through public petitions. Experts note that even widely signed petitions typically cannot trigger official action unless they meet specific legal criteria such as those tied to official government platforms.
Still, the petition’s growth reflects how celebrity politics and social media mobilization can collide, creating viral moments that—while symbolic—underline deep divides in public opinion about prominent cultural figures.
