A politician who stated Selena Gomez should be “deported” after she shared a since-deleted video of herself sobbing during recent immigration crackdowns was addressed by Selena Gomez.
In response to the mass deportations that President Donald Trump ordered over the weekend, Gomez, whose paternal grandparents immigrated from Mexico, first uploaded a video to her Instagram Stories on Monday in which she sobbed. In the video, Gomez sobbed as she said, “My people are getting attack.”
“I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t,” Gomez responded. “I am at a loss for what to do. I swear, I’ll try everything.
Instagram Stories are supposed to be visible for 24 hours, however following a flurry of criticism, it seemed the video was later removed. A remark that Gomez posted—and later removed—said, “apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.”
Sam Parker, a 2018 U.S. Senate candidate from Utah, attacked Gomez on X, saying she favors undocumented immigrants above Americans because she is a “descendent” of illegally crossing Mexican immigrants.
Like her illegal parents, she views America with entitlement. “Perhaps Selena should also be deported?” he wrote. Later, he just paraphrased his previous posts by writing, “Deport Selena Gomez.”
On Monday evening, Gomez replied in an Instagram Story, which she subsequently removed.
Gomez’s writing, “Oh Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker,” “Thanks for the laugh and the threat.”
Trump directed several federal agencies to participate in nationwide immigration raids over the weekend.On Sunday alone, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended about 1,200 people, although just 52% of the undocumented immigrants detained were deemed “criminals.”
Overstaying a visa or entering the country illegally are regarded civil offenses rather than crimes. However, after being deported, it is illegal to return to the United States without authorization.
Online reactions to the video of Gomez sobbing were divided; some criticized her position on immigration issues, while others criticized her for claiming she “can’t” do anything as a wealthy and well-known star.
Others, however, backed Gomez as one of the few famous people who spoke live during the immigration raids. Geraldo Rivera, a former Trump supporter and television personality, wrote on X in support of Gomez that “we can’t arrest our way out of our immigration crisis.”
“Selena Gomez should be commended for her compassion and sincerity,” Rivera stated. “People attacking her on social media should be ashamed.”
“Living Undocumented,” a 2019 Netflix documentary series that followed eight families in the United States without legal immigration status, was produced by Gomez. She explained why she supported the idea in an editorial that appeared in Time Magazine.
Gomez claimed in the editorial that her grandparents later followed her aunt, who had left Mexico “hidden in the back of a truck” to cross the border. Due to birthright citizenship, her father was born in Texas and is a citizen of the United States.
“Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship,” she stated in her letter. “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 claimed that the series brought to memory the hope as well as the anxiety and uncertainty of her own family members. According to Gomez, she knew her work on “Living Undocumented” would probably draw criticism.
“But the truth is, the worst criticism I can imagine is still nothing compared to what undocumented immigrants face every day,” Gomez wrote in her post. “Fear shouldn t stop us from getting involved and educating ourselves on an issue that affects millions of people in our country.”