Celebrated actor Alan Cumming fears deportation even though he has obtained US citzenship [View all]

https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/alan-cumming-faces-deportation-fears-before-baftas-531038

Alan Cumming, the celebrated Scottish actor and presenter, is no stranger to the spotlight, but in the days leading up to his high-profile role as host of the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards, he’s found himself at the center of a very different kind of attention—one that’s far more personal, and, in his words, "terrifying."

With the BAFTA ceremony set to air on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm on February 22, Cumming’s candid reflections on his life in the United States and his growing unease with the nation’s immigration climate have resonated across both sides of the Atlantic. Born in Aberfeldy, Scotland, Alan Cumming, now 61, has long divided his time between the rolling hills of his homeland and the bustling streets of New York City.

But recent months have brought a wave of anxiety for the actor, as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has ramped up its operations—sometimes alarmingly close to his own doorstep. According to reports from The Independent and The Metro, Cumming has become increasingly vocal about his fears of deportation, despite having obtained U.S. citizenship back in 2008.

The spark that ignited these fears came after a particularly impassioned appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where Cumming spoke out in support of transgender rights. The topic, already a flashpoint in American politics, drew additional scrutiny because of former President Donald Trump’s controversial ban on transgender individuals serving in the military—a policy that underscored the deep divisions in the country. Cumming recalled, " did a big rant about trans rights... People around me were like, 'You're going to be deported.'" The warning, while perhaps said in jest, struck a nerve as the political climate grew ever more charged. For Cumming, the threat felt all too real. He recounted the chilling experience of learning about ICE raids taking place just blocks from his New York home, particularly in Chinatown, less than a mile away. "But this is New York, and yet ICE have been less than a mile away from me right now in Chinatown, taking people off the streets. It's terrifying," he told The Metro in November 2025.