Selena Gomez's Tearful Plea Over Trump's Deportations Sparks Backlash, Immigration Rights Debate

Jan 28, 2025, 08:28 AM

Selena Gomez, an American singer and actress with Mexican heritage, posted and subsequently deleted a tearful video on Instagram expressing her distress over the mass deportations of undocumented immigrants under President Donald Trump's administration. In the video, Gomez apologized and expressed helplessness, stating, '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.' The video, which was accompanied by a caption of 'I'm sorry' and a Mexican flag emoji, drew significant backlash from conservative sectors, leading to its removal. In response to the criticism, Gomez posted another message saying, 'Apparently it's not OK to show empathy for people,' which she also deleted. U.S. Senate candidate Sam Parker reacted to Gomez's video by calling for her deportation, despite her being a U.S. citizen. Gomez responded to Parker's threat with sarcasm, thanking him for the 'laugh and the threat.' Tom Homan, Trump's 'border tsar,' defended the deportation policy on Fox News, stating that if critics 'don't like it, then go to Congress and change the law.' Homan emphasized that the operation would continue 'without apology,' focusing on public and national security threats, with 956 arrests reported on Sunday. The controversy sparked a significant increase in Google searches for 'immigration rights,' reflecting heightened public interest in the issue. Gomez has previously engaged with immigration issues through her Netflix documentary 'Living Undocumented' and her role in the film 'Emilia Perez,' which recently earned her a Bafta nomination. Rapper Flavor Flav publicly supported Gomez, praising her bravery in sharing her truth amidst criticism.