Home News Hollywood Privilege? Anna Delvey Gets ICE Approval for ‘DWTS’ Amid Harsh Treatment...

Hollywood Privilege? Anna Delvey Gets ICE Approval for ‘DWTS’ Amid Harsh Treatment of Latino Undocumented Immigrants 

Hollywood Privilege? Anna Delvey Gets ICE Approval for ‘DWTS’ Amid Harsh Treatment of Latino Undocumented Immigrants 
Credit: x.com/ @AcervoCharts

Anna Sorokin, the fake heiress who became infamous as the inspiration for Netflix’s “Inventing Anna,” is once again in the spotlight, this time as a contestant on the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars.” Sorokin, who was convicted in 2019 on eight felony counts, including grand larceny, claims she sought approval from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before traveling from New York to Los Angeles for the show. Yet, the ease with which she navigated the bureaucracy has drawn sharp criticism, which shines a bright light on the stark hypocrisy in the treatment of undocumented immigrants. 

Who Is This Fake Heiress Joining the Latest Season of ‘DWTS’?

Despite being convicted of swindling people and businesses out of $275,000, Sorokin —better known as Delvey — secured ICE’s permission to participate in the long-running ABC celebrity competition. “I kind of got talked into doing this. I got the permission from ICE and then it was kind of too late to back out,” Delvey told the Hollywood Reporter. Her participation, complete with an ankle bracelet monitor as a ballroom accessory, has prompted a flurry of backlash online. Some fans of “DWTS” have questioned Delvey’s “star” status, while others ironically labeled her casting as “iconic.” 

The outrage is not limited to the dance floor. On a recent episode of “The View,” co-host Whoopi Goldberg expressed disbelief at ICE’s decision, pointing out the double standards in the treatment of Sorokin compared to undocumented immigrants, particularly those under DACA.  

“I think back to all the families who’ve had family members arrested by ICE, who have gone to the courts to get their dad or their brother or their mother back, and this woman they gave her permission to go do this,” Goldberg said. “Now, should I think there’s a reason … is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?” Meanwhile, Delvey shrugged off the backlash, telling People, “It’s just not that serious.” 

Anna Delvey Proves That the Immigration System Does Not Work the Same for Everyone

The situation raises serious questions about the fairness of the U.S. immigration system. DACA recipients and Latino undocumented immigrants, who contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, face ongoing demonization by ICE and the broader political apparatus. Despite paying taxes, obtaining degrees, and being integral members of their communities, they are often subjected to a taxing and dehumanizing process to validate their identity and status — or worse, risk deportation to countries they barely know and where they may not even speak the language. Sorokin’s ability to secure ICE’s cooperation for a reality TV appearance exemplifies a troubling disparity. This is a glaring example of Hollywood permissiveness that most ordinary people, especially undocumented immigrants, could never hope to experience. 

According to a report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants paid an estimated $96.7 billion in state and local taxes in 2022. Additionally, many have completed higher education and contribute to the U.S. workforce in essential sectors. Yet, their contributions are often overlooked in favor of narratives that paint them as burdens or criminals. 

Sorokin’s presence on “DWTS,” alongside Olympians Ilona Maher and Stephen Nedoroscik, “Bachelorette” star Jenn Tran, and others, will no doubt continue to stir controversy. As Season 33 of “Dancing With the Stars,” co-hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, premieres on Sept. 17 on ABC, the debate over who gets to dance and who gets deported will likely remain in the public eye. 

Exit mobile version