Selena Gomez distraught over deportations of Mexicans in the US: 'All my people are getting attacked'
Selena Gomez was overwhelmed with emotions over Mexican people getting deported from the US as President Donald Trump's administration started its immigration crackdown.
In a video posted on her Instagram stories, the actress and singer could be seen with swollen eyes and tears flooding down her face as she lamented about how her people are "getting attacked" and apologized for not being able to do something about it.
"All my people are getting attacked, 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," Gomez said.
In the caption, she wrote, "I'm sorry," and accompanied it with an emoji of a Mexican flag.
Selena Gomez shares emotional Instagram Story about the deportation of Mexican people:
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) January 27, 2025
“All my people are getting attacked, 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.” pic.twitter.com/il8pPXYZma
The Hollywood star has since deleted the story after it received negative reactions from some viewers. She later posted another story on her Instagram account addressing the matter, writing, "Apparently it's not okay to show empathy for people."
Gomez's post comes after 1,179 people were arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to NBC News. While there was no specific data on how many of them were Mexican, immigration authorities detailed that half of the people had criminal records while the rest were detained for simply crossing the border illegally.
Gomez, whose father is of Mexican descent, previously opened up about her family's experience with coming to the US undocumented in an essay written for TIME.
"In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck. My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after. In 1992, I was born a U.S. citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice," she said.
"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. 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," she added.
She highlighted how immigration dismantles real lives and how we deal with it "speaks to our humanity, our empathy, our compassion."
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said that Filipinos illegally staying in the US are also facing the risk of getting deported.
He detailed that 350,000 Filipinos may be affected by Trump's "largest deportation program in US history," which is a "major concern" for those who have been staying there for many years and have already established families and jobs.
