Selena Gomez Pens Essay About Undocumented Immigration For 'Time' Magazine
Selena Gomez has penned a new essay for Time, addressing her concerns about immigration in the United States.
The 27-year-old singer gets candid about her own family’s journey to the country and how she became involved in Netflix’s new documentary, Living Undocumented.
“It is a human issue, affecting real people, dismantling real lives,” Selena writes. “How we deal with it speaks to our humanity, our empathy, our compassion. How we treat our fellow human beings defines who we are.”
She continues, “Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship. 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. But when I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations. I feel afraid for my country.”
“I’m concerned about the way people are being treated in my country,” Selena adds, while speaking of the documentary in particular. “As a Mexican-American woman, I feel a responsibility to use my platform to be a voice for people who are too afraid to speak.”
“I hope that getting to know these eight families and their stories will inspire people to be more compassionate, and to learn more about immigration and form their own opinion. I hope that Bar gets to study interior design. I hope that Pablo and Camilo can return home and sleep at night.”