Stacy
Selena Gomez, the 32-year-old singer and actress currently riding high on the success of her Oscar-nominated film Emilia Perez, found herself at the center of controversy after sharing a tearful Instagram Story criticizing recent immigration policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The video, posted on January 26 and later deleted, featured a visibly distraught Gomez expressing her heartbreak over an immigration enforcement operation that resulted in over 1,100 arrests nationwide. “All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand,” she said, her voice breaking. “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.” Accompanied by a Mexican flag emoji and the words “I’m sorry,” the post was a raw moment of empathy for those affected by the crackdown.
The timing of her video coincided with an announcement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detailing a large-scale operation targeting what officials described as public safety and national security threats. The operation spanned multiple states, including California, Texas, Georgia, and Illinois, as well as territories like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to ICE, this effort resulted in 956 arrests on Sunday alone, marking the highest single-day total since Trump returned to office. By Monday, that number had climbed to over 1,100.
Gomez’s emotional message sparked heated reactions online. While many fans applauded her for speaking out and showing vulnerability, others accused her of being overly dramatic and seeking attention. Social media platforms became battlegrounds for debate, with some labeling her post a “publicity stunt” while others celebrated her courage in addressing such a polarizing issue.
Amid the backlash, Gomez deleted the video and posted a follow-up message in her Instagram Story, which she later removed. It read, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.” She has since remained silent on the matter.
This isn’t the first time Gomez has been vocal about her stance on immigration issues. During the Los Angeles premiere of Emilia Perez last October, she told a news portal, “I want to stand by my people,” referring to her Mexican-American heritage.
The enforcement blitz, led by ICE with support from other Justice Department agencies, has reignited debates over immigration policy across the nation. Critics argue that such actions harm families and communities, while supporters maintain they are necessary for national security.
For Gomez, the emotional fallout from her post highlights the challenges faced by public figures who choose to speak out on contentious political issues. Whether her actions will resonate positively with her audience in the long run or continue to provoke criticism remains to be seen.
Keep reading questiqa.com & questiqa.in for more updates.
Olivia
Kathy
