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| Selena can be seen crying profusely in the video | Photo: Instagram |
Selena Gomez broke down in tears in a now-deleted social media video, expressing deep sorrow over the U.S. government's immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The video, originally posted on her Instagram Story, showed the singer and actress emotionally reacting to reports of undocumented immigrants being detained and deported.
“I just want to say I’m so sorry,” Gomez said through tears. “So many people are being targeted, even children. I don’t understand what’s happening. I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. But I promise I’ll do everything I can.”
Her emotional plea sparked widespread debate online, with some praising her compassion while others criticized her stance. Right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren mocked Gomez on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “This is why we don’t take political advice from Disney child stars.” The reference alluded to Gomez’s early rise to fame through the Disney Channel.
Following intense backlash, Gomez deleted the video.
This is not the first time she has spoken out against Trump’s immigration policies. In an October interview with Variety, while promoting her film Emilia Perez, she voiced support for immigrants, saying, “Of course, I want to stand with people.”
Gomez has a personal connection to the immigration debate. Her family originally immigrated from Mexico, and she previously revealed that her aunt crossed the U.S. border in the 1970s by hiding in the back of a truck, followed by her grandparents. Her father was later born in Texas, where Gomez herself was born in 1992.
In 2019, Gomez co-produced the Netflix documentary Living Undocumented, which followed the struggles of eight immigrant families facing deportation. Reflecting on the project, she said, “Watching these stories, I couldn’t hold back my tears.
I felt ashamed. It reminded me of my own family’s journey. But in some of the footage, I also saw hope, the resilience of those who embrace a new country despite the hardships.”