In a blistering takedown that lit up social media, the indie rock band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club has issued a searing cease and desist letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after the agency used their rendition of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” without permission in a government-produced video glorifying immigration raids.
The video in question, posted to DHS’s official Instagram, features sweeping night-vision footage of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents conducting operations, underscored by Bible verses and the haunting melody of the Johnny Cash-covered track. One agent is shown solemnly quoting Isaiah 6:8:
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me.’”
The tone is militant, reverent, and unmistakably political—combining evangelical language with a cinematic portrayal of border enforcement under the Trump administration. But the music, it turns out, was stolen.
“You Don’t Respect Copyright Law”
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club did not hold back. In a statement posted to Instagram, the band condemned DHS for both the unauthorized use of their music and for what they see as a larger abuse of power:
“It has come to our attention that the Department of Homeland Security is improperly using our recording of ‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’ in your latest propaganda video.”
“It’s obvious that you don’t respect Copyright Law and Artist Rights any more than you respect Habeas Corpus and Due Process rights, not to mention the separation of Church and State per the US Constitution.”
“For the record, we hereby order @dhsgov to cease and desist the use of our recording and demand that you immediately pull down your video. Oh, and go f** yourselves.”*
The statement—equal parts legal threat and righteous rage—instantly went viral, earning praise from fans, artists, and civil rights advocates who called the band’s move “badass,” “brave,” and “long overdue.”
DHS Slammed for Weaponizing Scripture
While the copyright violation was enough to raise eyebrows, the video’s use of Scripture to justify militarized immigration enforcement drew even fiercer backlash.
Pastor and author Zach W. Lambert accused DHS of “twisting the Bible to serve a fascist agenda,” noting that the verse cited by the agent is often misapplied.
“Using Bible verses to justify violence against immigrants is not only the opposite of what Jesus teaches,” Lambert said, “it’s also a direct contradiction to the passage cited.”
He pointed out that Isaiah’s actual mission in Scripture was to condemn injustice, specifically targeting leaders who “make unjust laws… to deprive the poor of their rights.”
In other words: Isaiah wasn’t a border agent. He was a whistleblower.
“Holy Propaganda”
Civil rights groups, musicians, and critics of the Trump administration labeled the DHS video “holy propaganda”—a disturbing blend of authoritarian imagery and religious nationalism.
As one Instagram user put it:
“They’re baptizing fascism in Bible verses and outlaw songs. It’s cult behavior.”
Others noted the irony of appropriating a track like “God’s Gonna Cut You Down”—a song about divine judgment for corruption—to glorify state surveillance and deportation raids.
“It’s supposed to condemn sin and violence, not soundtrack it,” one user commented.
Legal and Moral Fallout
The use of copyrighted music in government productions without proper licensing isn’t new, but rarely does the blowback come this swiftly or this publicly. The cease and desist adds to mounting scrutiny over DHS’s escalating media campaigns, which many have criticized for resembling state-sponsored propaganda more than public service messaging.
The band has not announced legal action—yet—but their warning is loud and clear: pull the video, or face consequences.
In the meantime, DHS has not responded to the allegations or removed the clip, which continues to circulate widely across social media platforms. Whether the agency will comply—or double down—remains to be seen.
But if they thought a little background music would go unnoticed, they’ve underestimated the fury of both rock and the rule of law.
