The administration of Donald Trump has reacted strongly to the video posted by Selena Gomez on Instagram, in which the singer and actress expressed her sadness over the recent raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The White House responded with its own video, in which three mothers whose daughters were allegedly murdered by undocumented immigrants question the artist's message.
El video, compartido por la secretaria de prensa Karoline Leavitt en X, incluye fragmentos del video de Gomez junto con testimonios de Tammy Nobles, Patty Morin y Alexis Nungaray, madres de las víctimas.
"You don't know who you're crying for.", said Nobles, whose daughter, Kathy Hamilton, was murdered in Maryland by Salvadoran Walter Javier Martínez.
"What happens to our children who were brutally murdered, raped, and beaten to death, and left on the ground by these illegal immigrants?" the woman questioned in the images.
The video of Gomez, posted on her Instagram story and then deleted, showed her crying and saying: "I'm so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can't. I don't know what to do. I'll try everything, I promise."
However, the White House and the mothers who participated in the video believe that its message is biased and does not acknowledge the suffering of the victims' families.
Patty Morin, whose daughter Rachel Morin was murdered in 2023, described Gomez's video as "a ploy to deceive people and generate sympathy for anarchy." Rachel Morin, a mother of five, was found dead on the Ma and Pa Trail in Maryland.
Su presunto asesino, Víctor Antonio Martínez-Hernández, habría ingresado ilegalmente a Estados Unidos tras huir de El Salvador, donde ya era buscado por otro asesinato, según funcionarios de Maryland.
For his part, Alexis Nungaray, whose 12-year-old daughter Jocelyn Nungaray was murdered in Houston in June 2024, questioned Gomez's sincerity.
"It's hard to believe what she said in her video because she's an actress", she said.
Johan José Martínez-Rangel and Franklin Peña were charged with capital murder in connection with the Jocelyn case, and both had criminal records with ICE detentions for violating immigration laws.
El asesinato de la niña de 12 años también fue un punto de discusión entre Donald Trump y el expresidente Joe Biden durante la campaña del año pasado.
Trump blamed Biden's border policies for his death, while the Democrat's team responded by recalling that Trump blocked a bipartisan immigration reform deal in Congress.
The White House has amplified its message through its social media, asserting that Gomez's video downplays the impact of illegal immigration on the country's security.
Nobles and Morin also criticized what they see as a lack of empathy from the artist.
"They did not cry for our daughters", concluded Nobles.
The impact of the controversy on Gomez's popularity has already become apparent. Since the publication and removal of her video, she has lost over 120,000 followers on Instagram.
The platform CritiqueJeu has reported a drop of up to 800,000 followers in the past month, coinciding with its increasing criticism of Donald Trump and his involvement in the controversial film Emilia Pérez.
Frequently Asked Questions about Selena Gomez's Reaction to Deportations and the U.S. Government's Response.
Why did Selena Gomez post a video crying on Instagram?
Selena Gomez posted a video crying on Instagram because she was visibly affected by the mass deportations and the inhumane treatment of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. during Donald Trump's administration. She expressed her frustration and pain regarding these policies and her desire to take action.
How did the U.S. government respond to the Selena Gomez video?
The White House reacted strongly to Selena Gomez's video by posting its own video featuring three mothers, whose daughters were allegedly murdered by undocumented immigrants, questioning the artist's message. The government deemed Gomez's message to be biased and felt it did not acknowledge the suffering of the families of victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
What impact did the release of the video have on Selena Gomez's popularity?
The impact of the controversy on Selena Gomez's popularity was notable. Following the release and removal of her video, she lost over 120,000 followers on Instagram. It was also reported that she experienced a drop of up to 800,000 followers on the platform CritiqueJeu, coinciding with her increasing criticism of Donald Trump.
How has public opinion been divided regarding the video of Selena Gomez and the government's response?
Public opinion has been divided regarding Selena Gomez's video and the government's response. Some support Gomez for showing empathy towards immigrants, while others criticize her message for being insensitive to the victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. The situation illustrates the tensions surrounding immigration policies in the U.S.
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