Selena Gomez Opens Up About Her Family Crossing U.S.-Mexico Border In A Truck

Selena Gomez published an article in Time magazine on Tuesday where she opened up about ongoing immigration crises in the United States, and also discussed her family’s history, as an immigrant.

“In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck,” Gomez said. “My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after. In 1992, I was born a U.S. citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice.”

Gomez expressed het disappointment over the fact that immigrants in the United States, the country that is associated with freedom, are treated poorly and inhumanly.

“When I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations,” she added. “I feel afraid for my country.”

“It is a human issue, affecting real people, dismantling real lives. How we deal with it speaks to our humanity, our empathy, our compassion. How we treat our fellow human beings defines who we are.”

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Gomez is the executive producer of a new Netflix documentary series, Living Undocumented, which chronicles the lives of eight immigrant families living in the U.S. and facing deportation.

The singer said that she was afraid of the criticism when she signed on to produce the show, but she found the motivation and felt responsible as a Mexican American woman to use her platform for those who are too afraid to speak.

“The truth is, the worst criticism I can imagine is still nothing compared to what undocumented immigrants face every day,” she said.

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“Fear didn’t stop my aunt from getting into the back of that truck. And for that, I will always be grateful.”

Living Undocumented is launching globally on Netflix today, Oct 2.