Actress and singer Selena Gomez recently posted an emotional video on her Instagram Story, expressing distress over recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportations. In the video, Gomez tearfully stated, “All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand.”
She added, “I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something.” The post included a Mexican flag emoji and the caption “I’m sorry.” Shortly after posting, Gomez deleted the video and followed up with a message stating, “Apparently it’s not okay to show empathy for people.”
The deportations in question occurred during the first weekend of President Donald Trump’s second term, where federal agents conducted nationwide operations resulting in over 1,200 arrests of illegal immigrants charged or convicted of crimes in the United States.
Gomez, born in the United States to a family of Mexican descent, has previously spoken about her family’s immigration history. In a 2019 Time Magazine interview, she shared that her aunt crossed the border from Mexico in the 1970s, followed by her grandparents, leading to her father’s birth in Texas. She emphasized her daily contemplation of undocumented immigration and her gratitude for being born in the U.S. due to her family’s sacrifices.
The video sparked mixed reactions. Some social media users criticized Gomez, with talk show host Piers Morgan commenting, “Posting yourself weeping over illegal immigrant criminals being deported is a new level of absurd celebrity narcissism.” Others commented questioning whether the A-list celebrity shared empathy for those impacted by dangerous border policies like Laken Riley.
