Categories: Celebrities

Crying Gomez breaks down over Trump deportations

In her recording, the 32-year-old actress sobbed as she reacted to President Trump's plan to deport millions of immigrants, which has ignited fears of family separations

Selena Gomez shared a tearful Instagram Story, expressing anguish over President Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations. In the since-deleted video, the 32-year-old star apologized to affected immigrants, saying she felt helpless. “All my people are getting attacked, the children,” she sobbed. “I’m sorry…I don’t know what to do.”

Swift retraction and public reaction

Shortly after her emotional post, Gomez removed the video and wrote, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.” The singer-actress has long voiced her concerns about family separations and detentions, previously speaking out against “kids in cages” and decrying the inhumane treatment of migrants at the border.

Advocacy through documentaries and essays

In 2019, Gomez produced Living Undocumented, a Netflix documentary spotlighting the stories of migrant families. She also penned a Time magazine essay detailing her personal connection to immigration. Born in Texas to a family of Mexican descent, Gomez acknowledged her gratitude for being a U.S. citizen, while fearing for those who share her heritage but lack legal status.

Ties to her heritage

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JANUARY 26: American pop singer Selena Gomez performs during a concert in the tour We Own The Night 2011 at the Palacio de los Deportes on january 26 Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Angel Delgado/Clasos.com/LatinContent via Getty Images)

Gomez has opened up about her family’s immigration journey from Mexico to the U.S. in the 1970s, emphasizing how that experience shaped her worldview. Despite a demanding career that led her to lose some Spanish fluency, she remains committed to honoring her roots. She even took Spanish lessons for six months while preparing for a recent film role.

Championing cultural roots

The pop icon regularly uses her platform to support immigrant communities. She gave a heartfelt speech for Define American’s Immigrad 2020 ceremony, encouraging immigrant graduates to stay determined. Whether protesting family separations or recalling her own family’s sacrifices, Gomez continues to shine a spotlight on issues impacting migrant families today.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.