Selena Gomez shares tearful reaction to deportation threats in deleted video

Selena Gomez shares emotional reaction to Mexican deportations in a video on Instagram, later deleting the post

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Selena Gomez has shared an emotional reaction to the deportation of Mexican immigrants in a video posted to her Instagram Story, which she later deleted.

In the video, the 32-year-old actress tearfully addressed former President Donald Trump’s renewed threats of mass deportations, which have sparked fears of family separations.

“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 in the recording.

The Wizards of Waverly Place alum captioned her post with an apology and a Mexican flag emoji before taking it down. She later shared another message that read: “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.”

Her emotional response came after a nationwide immigration crackdown on Sunday resulted in the arrest of 956 people, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The operation, described as the largest since Trump’s return to power, involved multiple federal agencies with expanded detention powers in cities such as Chicago, Newark, and Miami.

Gomez, who produced the 2019 Netflix documentary Living Undocumented, has long been vocal about immigration issues. The documentary explored the struggles of undocumented families in the United States and drew on her own family’s immigration story.

The Texas-born actress has previously spoken about her paternal grandparents’ journey from Mexico to the United States in the 1970s, a story of resilience that shaped her own identity.

In a personal essay for Time magazine, Gomez reflected: “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.”

She continued, “As a Mexican-American woman, I feel a responsibility to use my platform to be a voice for people who are too afraid to speak.”

The Only Murders in the Building star has also condemned inhumane conditions faced by migrants in detention centers, particularly children. In a 2019 Instagram post, she expressed outrage over reports of children sleeping on concrete floors with aluminum blankets, calling the situation “absolutely inhumane.”

Beyond advocacy, Gomez has embraced her cultural roots. While preparing for her role in Emilia Pérez, she took six months of Spanish lessons. In an interview with NPR’s Fresh Air, she admitted losing her fluency after moving to Los Angeles to pursue her entertainment career but emphasized her commitment to honoring her heritage through music and film.

“I’m a proud, third-generation American-Mexican, and my family’s journeys and their sacrifice helped me get to where I am today,” Gomez said in a 2020 virtual commencement speech for immigrant graduates.

Her latest video is a poignant reminder of her ongoing advocacy for immigrant rights, underscoring the challenges faced by undocumented communities in the U.S.