KISS co-founder Gene Simmons told a Milwaukee crowd that he immigrated to the United States “the lawful way” during a July 3, 2026 concert at Summerfest.
Performing with his solo band, Simmons paused to share his views on American patriotism and immigration policy.
“I myself am an immigrant, but a legal one,” Simmons said. “I came through the lawful way. You wait in line, you respect the country, you respect its laws, and then you become a citizen of the United States of America.”
Simmons was born in Israel and immigrated to the United States as a child.
He drew a distinction between his experience with the formal immigration process and unauthorized border crossings.