In a raw and emotional display, actress and singer Selena Gomez broke down in tears on social media amidst news of aggressive immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration. On Monday, Gomez posted a video on her Instagram Story, visibly distraught over the recent ICE raids that have led to hundreds of arrests.
“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 through sobs. Her caption read “I’m sorry” with a Mexican flag emoji, signaling her personal connection to the issue.
The video follows a weekend where ICE reported an unprecedented 956 arrests in a nationwide sweep, marking the highest number since Trump’s return to the White House, according to data cited by the BBC. This operation continues a trend of significant enforcement actions, with earlier arrests on January 25, 24, and 23 totaling 286, 593, and 538 respectively.
Gomez, who has long been an advocate for immigration reform, highlighted her family’s history with immigration in a subsequent post, stating, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.”
The singer has previously used her platform to spotlight immigration issues, notably through her production of the Netflix series “Living Undocumented.” In a 2019 TIME magazine op-ed, she detailed her family’s journey to the United States, with her aunt being one of the first to cross the border in the 1970s in harrowing conditions.
“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, reflecting on her personal connection to the topic.
The current administration’s approach to immigration has reignited debates on policy and human rights, with critics decrying the impact on communities and families, while proponents argue for the enforcement of immigration laws for security reasons.
Comparatively, under former President Joe Biden, approximately 1.5 million deportations occurred in his first term, aligning closely with the numbers from Trump’s initial presidency, according to the Migration Policy Institute.