Whoopi Goldberg tears into ICE and Anna Delvey for allowing her to star in Dancing With the Stars

Whoopi Goldberg has voiced strong disapproval over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allowing convicted con artist Anna Delvey to participate in Dancing With the Stars. Speaking on The View on September 5, Goldberg did not hold back, criticizing ICE for giving Delvey the green light to join the competition, even though she remains under house arrest.

"This is a [f--- you] in the face of a lot of people who have been trying to make their way back to this country and families torn apart," Goldberg said on the talk show.

The comments from Whoopi Goldberg and her co-hosts came just a day after it was announced that Delvey, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, would be competing in the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars. Despite being under house arrest for violating the terms of her visa, Delvey received clearance from ICE to take part in the show, which stirred immediate controversy.

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Whoopi Goldberg slams ICE's decision to allow convicted con artist Anna Delvey

Whoopi Goldberg expressed her frustration with the decision, noting the struggles of countless families impacted by immigration policies.

"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 mother or their brother back."

"And this woman, they gave her permission to go do this. Now, should I think there’s a reason? Is there a two-tiered system here with ICE?"

Anna Delvey gained widespread notoriety for posing as a wealthy German heiress, using her fraudulent status to swindle banks, hotels, and wealthy individuals. In 2017, she was arrested and later convicted on multiple counts of grand larceny and theft of services.

In 2019, Delvey was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison but was released early in February 2021 due to good behavior. However, her troubles were far from over, as she was detained by ICE for overstaying her visa.

Since her release, Delvey has been living under house arrest in New York City while contesting her deportation. Her participation in Dancing With the Stars is raising eyebrows, especially since she’s still wearing an ankle monitor, which she says won’t interfere with her performances.

Sunny Hostin, another co-host of The View, questioned the leniency Delvey seems to enjoy, asking,

"What's the consequence of her crimes? A bejeweled ankle monitor — a federal bejeweled ankle monitor — and then a spot on a television show?"

Whoopi Goldberg's other co-hosts chimed in as well. Sara Haines drew a comparison to former President Donald Trump, stating,

"We have a felon running for president, why are we surprised?"

Joy Behar jokingly suggested a spinoff series titled "Dancing with the Felons," but beneath the humor, the frustration with the situation was clear.

Whoopi Goldberg, usually measured in pop culture discussions, returned to the topic, emphasizing the apparent unfairness of Delvey’s situation.

"She still owes people money. I don’t understand why she gets to stay!" she exclaimed, before Behar quipped that Delvey's looks might play a role in her lenient treatment.

"Well, that’s a little bit of a piss-off, I have got to tell you," Whoopi Goldberg retorted.

She then tied Delvey’s situation to broader immigration issues, noting how families are torn apart while someone like Delvey is allowed to participate in a high-profile television show.

In response to the backlash, Anna Delvey has remained unfazed. When asked about her casting on Dancing With the Stars, Delvey shrugged off the criticism.

"It's just not that serious," she told PEOPLE. "If someone is that upset about casting on a dancing show, I don't know what to tell them."

Despite her house arrest, Delvey has been paired with professional dancer Ezra Sosa and will continue to wear her ankle monitor throughout the competition. She assured The Hollywood Reporter that the device wouldn't affect her performance.

"In what way would it affect my performance? It’s actually pretty light," Delvey commented.

While Dancing With the Stars has previously featured controversial figures, including convicted felons like Teresa Giudice and Lil' Kim, the circumstances around Delvey's participation, especially considering her current legal status, have sparked outrage.