Selena Gomez, the acclaimed actress and singer, shared an emotional response to the recent immigration sweeps conducted by the Trump administration, which resulted in over 1,000 arrests across the United States. In a now-deleted video posted to her Instagram story on Monday, Gomez, who is of Mexican-American descent, expressed her heartbreak over the situation.
“All my people are getting attacked,” she said through tears. “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 heartfelt video also featured the phrase “I’m sorry,” accompanied by a Mexican flag emoji.
Shortly after posting, Gomez deleted the video, replacing it with another Instagram story that read, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people,” before removing that as well.
Backlash and Response
The emotional outpouring from the Emilia Pérez star drew criticism, including from former acting ICE Director Tom Homan. Speaking on Fox News, Homan questioned why Gomez wasn’t expressing similar grief for victims of fentanyl overdoses or for children who had been smuggled into the U.S. and faced trafficking or death.
“I’ve met with hundreds of moms and dads who were separated from their children because they buried them, because they were killed by illegal aliens,” Homan stated during an interview with Sean Hannity. He also alluded to claims about child trafficking and illegal immigration that have been widely disputed.
Despite the backlash, Gomez has not issued further statements or clarified her initial posts since their deletion.
Immigration Enforcement Blitz
The Trump administration’s enforcement action, launched Sunday, led to arrests in various locations, including California, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with other federal agencies, reported targeting individuals deemed threats to public safety and national security.
By Monday, more than 1,100 arrests had been made, with Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration also contributing to the operation.
The immigration crackdown reignited debates surrounding the humanitarian and political implications of such actions, with Gomez’s emotional response amplifying the conversation.
Public Reactions
Selena Gomez’s video has sparked mixed reactions on social media. Some fans applauded her for speaking out, while critics questioned her understanding of the broader context of immigration enforcement.
This incident highlights the tension celebrities face when addressing political and social issues, especially when their statements evoke strong emotional reactions. Whether Gomez will further address her remarks remains unclear, but her now-deleted posts have undoubtedly added to the ongoing discourse on immigration policy in the United States.