Selena Gomez Expresses Emotion Over ICE Deporting Convicted Criminals

Actress Selena Gomez stirred controversy this week after posting a tearful video reacting to the Trump administration’s mass deportation of illegal immigrants, many of whom had committed heinous crimes. The now-deleted Instagram Story showed the 32-year-old star openly weeping, lamenting the deportations as attacks on her “people.”

“All my people are getting attacked,” Gomez said through tears. “The children. I don’t understand.” The video, accompanied by a Mexican flag emoji, was posted on January 27 before being taken down. Gomez later added a follow-up post saying, “Apparently it’s not ok to show empathy for people.”

President Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations have led to over 1,300 arrests since his second inauguration. The vast majority of those detained have been convicted of additional crimes, including pedophiles, gang members, and at least one terrorist, according to Border Czar Tom Homan.

One high-profile operation in Chicago documented by Dr. Phil McGraw revealed the arrest of a convicted child sex offender from Thailand who had been flagged for deportation. Homan emphasized that these deportations are focused on individuals who pose serious threats to public safety.

Gomez’s emotional reaction drew sharp criticism online. Filmmaker Robby Starbuck responded to the circulating video, saying, “My lord these people are insufferable.” Many echoed his sentiment, pointing out that the deportations align with Trump’s promise to prioritize the removal of criminals, not law-abiding individuals.

This isn’t the first time Selena Gomez has spoken out on immigration issues. In 2019, she produced a Netflix docuseries, Living Undocumented, which chronicled the lives of illegal alien families in the U.S. She has also publicly discussed her grandparents’ journey as Mexican immigrants.

In a TIME op-ed from the same year, Gomez expressed her concerns about immigration policies, writing, “I understand it’s flawed and that we need rules and regulations, but we also have to remember that our country was formed by people who came here from other countries.”

While Gomez’s reaction has resonated with some, it has also highlighted the divide over the Trump administration’s immigration policies. For supporters, the focus on deporting criminals fulfills a key campaign promise. For critics like Gomez, the human cost of these policies remains a pressing concern.

As the debate over immigration enforcement continues, the Trump administration remains steadfast in its commitment to prioritizing public safety while enforcing the law.

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