On January 27, 2025, Selena Gomez shared an emotional video on Instagram, tearfully expressing her distress over recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that led to the arrest of nearly a thousand undocumented migrants, many of whom were of Mexican descent. In her since-deleted post, Gomez, who has Mexican ancestry, conveyed empathy for the affected individuals and their families, particularly the children impacted by these actions.
In response, Tom Homan, the Trump administration's border czar and former acting director of ICE, defended the agency's operations. He emphasized that ICE targets individuals with prior criminal histories and stated that the enforcement actions are conducted to ensure community safety. Homan suggested that those who disagree with the current laws should seek changes through Congress, reaffirming that ICE operates within the bounds of existing legislation.
Over the weekend in question, ICE arrested over 1,200 individuals, with expectations of continued daily arrests. These actions have prompted legal challenges from various groups, including Quakers, who are filing lawsuits against what they perceive as unconstitutional raids in houses of worship.
Selena Gomez has been an outspoken advocate for immigration reform. In 2019, she produced the Netflix docuseries "Living Undocumented," which highlighted the challenges faced by undocumented families in the U.S. She has also shared her family's personal experiences with immigration, emphasizing the need for compassionate treatment of immigrants.