Time Magazine recently published an op-ed by Selena Gomez on America's immigration crisis, where she opens up about how her family snuck across the US border "hidden in the back of a truck."
Time Magazine recently published an op-ed by Selena Gomez on America's immigration crisis, where she opens up about how her family snuck across the US border "hidden in the back of a truck."
"In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck," she began.
She then explains that she owes her's and her family's legitimate US citizenship to the sacrifice her relatives made over the last few decades.
"Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship."
"I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance."
"When I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations."
"Immigration goes beyond politics and headlines. It is a human issue, affecting real people, dismantling real lives," she went on.
"How we deal with it [immigration] speaks to our humanity, our empathy, our compassion. How we treat our fellow human beings defines who we are."
"I don’t claim to be an expert. I’m not a politician, I’m not a doctor, and I don’t work in the system at all. I understand it’s flawed and that we need rules and regulations," she wrote.
"It’s time to listen to the people whose lives are being directly affected by immigration policies."
Selena then revealed that her latest project is a documentary series called Living Undocumented.
"I watched footage outlining their deeply personal journeys and I cried," Selena added.
"It captured the shame, uncertainty, and fear I saw my own family struggle with," she wrote.
She admitted that she knows she may face backlash for speaking out on such a divided issue in her country, but that it had to be done.
"Fear shouldn’t stop us from getting involved and educating ourselves on an issue that affects millions of people in our country."
Eloquently said, Selena!