Selena Gomez sparked intense discussion on Monday with an emotional Instagram video addressing President Donald Trump’s recent deportation policies. In the since-deleted post, the 32-year-old actress and singer tearfully expressed her heartbreak over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have resulted in nearly 1,000 arrests since Trump’s return to office.

“All my people are getting attacked, the children,” Gomez said through tears, her voice breaking. “I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”

The video was captioned simply, “I’m sorry,” accompanied by a Mexican flag emoji, before it was removed from her account. Gomez later posted a follow-up Instagram Story stating, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people,” which she also deleted.

Trump’s immigration crackdown and Selena Gomez’s personal connection

The backdrop for Gomez’s video is Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign. ICE claims the campaign aims to remove individuals without legal status from the United States. As reported by the BBC, the recent raids led to 956 arrests in one day. Thousands more are expected in the coming weeks. Trump’s administration has already signed over 21 executive orders targeting undocumented immigrants.

For Gomez, this issue hits close to home. In her 2019 Time essay, she revealed that her aunt had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in the 1970s, hidden in the back of a truck. Her grandparents later followed, allowing her father to be born in Texas.

“Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance,” Gomez wrote at the time. “But when I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations. I feel afraid for my country.”

Credit: Selena Gomez/Instagram.

Criticism and support for Selena Gomez flood social media

Following her posts, Selena Gomez faced both backlash and support online. Critics, including conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, labeled her actions as misguided. “Certified moron @selenagomez crying for criminal illegal aliens is really something else,” Lahren tweeted. Others accused her of seeking attention without offering tangible solutions.

However, many fans and supporters came to Gomez’s defense, emphasizing her right to express her feelings. “How can people be mad at someone with Mexican heritage being heartbroken by how the U.S. treats Latinos? That’s literally her family!” one supporter tweeted. Another wrote, “Damn this is sad. Glad Selena is bringing light to how terrible this is.”

Selena Gomez has a long history of activism on immigration

This is far from the first time Selena Gomez has used her platform to advocate for immigrants. In 2019, she executive-produced the Netflix documentary Living Undocumented, which followed eight undocumented families navigating life in the U.S. The series showcased the fear and uncertainty faced by individuals living under the threat of deportation.

Speaking about the documentary, Gomez admitted she anticipated criticism but felt compelled to act. “When I signed on to executive-produce a show about undocumented immigrants, I couldn’t help but anticipate the criticisms I might face. But the truth is, the worst criticism I can imagine is still nothing compared to what undocumented immigrants face every day,” she wrote in Time.

Why Gomez’s words resonate now more than ever

Trump’s current policies mark a stark departure from the immigration approach of the Biden administration. The former President deported 1.5 million individuals in its first term—a similar number but executed with less visible intensity. Trump’s strategy has been described by Columbia University political science professor Robert Shapiro as a “shock and awe” tactic designed to dominate headlines and demonstrate his commitment to campaign promises.

Amid this political backdrop, Gomez’s raw and emotional response has brought attention to the human impact of these policies. “When I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations,” she wrote in her Time essay. Her video echoes this fear, offering a glimpse into the deep emotional toll these issues take on families and individuals.

The stakes for millions of undocumented immigrants

According to the Migration Policy Institute, 11.7 million people in the U.S. currently lack legal status. Trump’s directive for ICE to increase daily arrests to between 1,200 and 1,500 has raised concerns about potential mistakes, racial profiling, and the impact on industries reliant on immigrant labor.

“The problem that can occur is that to get these numbers may involve mistakes and racial profiling that can get out of hand,” Shapiro told Newsweek. “It could have repercussions for the economy if it leads to the disappearance of immigrant workers in sectors that face worker shortages.”

Selena Gomez’s message: Empathy isn’t optional

As the debate surrounding immigration intensifies, Gomez’s tearful video serves as a stark reminder of the human cost behind the numbers. Despite criticism, her vulnerability underscores the importance of empathy in a deeply polarized world. Whether or not her words lead to tangible action, they have undeniably reignited conversations about immigration and its consequences.

In her own words: “It’s time to get to know the individuals whose complex stories have been reduced to basic headlines.”