Selena Gomez has shared an emotional reaction to the mass deportations of undocumented migrants ordered by President Donald Trump.
The 32-year-old musician, whose father is of Mexican descent, broke down in a tearful video shared to her Instagram Stories.
In the now-deleted clip, Gomez expressed her heartbreak over the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that took place over the weekend, during which 956 people were arrested across major cities in just three days under Trump’s latest immigration policy, per BBC.
“I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked,” she said as tears were streaming down her face. “The children. 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 also featured a text overlay in which Gomez wrote: “I’m sorry,” accompanied by an emoji of the Mexican flag.
Watch the video below:
Selena Gomez shares new Instagram story crying amid the deportation of Mexicans:
“I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked. The children, I don’t understand. I wish I could do something.” pic.twitter.com/9H7ojMhpCN
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 27, 2025
The clip was quickly deleted, but not before the ‘Love You Like A Love Song’ artist faced backlash from some individuals on the right.
In a follow-up post, Gomez addressed the criticism: “Apparently, it’s not okay to show empathy for people.”
One vocal critic, U.S. Senate candidate Sam Parker, took to X with a shocking response to her video, which read: “Deport Selena Gomez.”
That was an absurd suggestion, considering the former Disney Channel star is a U.S.-born citizen, hailing from Texas.
Deport Selena Gomez. https://t.co/QkkDIBWBKD
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Do you see a man and a woman in an empty room? — Sam Parker 🇺🇲 (@SamParkerSenate) January 27, 2025
Parker doubled down on his remarks, later sharing an Instagram post where he boasted about his comments, describing himself as being in a “war against a bunch of r******* Selena Gomez fans.”
The Only Murders In The Building actress didn’t let Parker’s words go unanswered as she responded to his comments on her Instagram Stories.
“Oh Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker. Thanks for the laugh and the threat,” she wrote.
Gomez has opened up about her aunt crossing the border from Mexico into America in the 1970s on the back of a truck. Her paternal grandparents, Ricardo and Mary, followed her to the States and, once there, welcomed Gomez’s father.
Writing a first-person article for TIME back in October 2019 when Trump was originally President of the United States, the singer shared her thoughts on immigration: “Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship.
“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,” she continued.
She said that when she reads news headlines or sees debates about “immigration rage” on social media, it makes her feel “afraid for those in similar situations” and “afraid for [her] country”.
Trump’s return to the white house as the 47th president of the United States has already sparked significant controversy. Since he took office, he has carried out 21 executive actions aimed at cracking down on immigration.
Among the immediate actions, his administration shut down the CBP One app, leaving countless families stranded as their scheduled border appointments were abruptly canceled.
The 78-year-old also signed an executive order to end birthright citizenship – a right protected by the 14th Amendment – set to take effect in February. The move has already sparked backlash and legal challenges from 22 states and numerous activist groups.
