Shakira says she's 'living in constant fear' as an immigrant in the US
Shakira has spoken out about the immigration situation in the US (Picture: Kevin Mazur Photography)
Shakira has spoken out about the dark reality of living as an immigrant in Trump's America.
The Colombian superstar, 48, is in the midst of a grueling tour, yet doesn't miss an opportunity to speak out on behalf of her community.
'I was only 19 when I moved to the U.S., like many other Colombian immigrants who come to this country looking for a better future,' she says. 'It was precarious, challenging. But I wanted to break through.'
That journey took her from Miami, where she learned English by poring over synonym dictionaries and Leonard Cohen poems, to the global stage.
Yet, despite her success, she doesn't feel immune to the hostile rhetoric and shifting policies that have defined much of the U.S. immigration debate in recent years.
'It means living in constant fear,' she tells the BBC of being an immigrant in the US.'And it's painful to see.'
The Colombian popstar has been vocal about supporting immigrants (Picture: JLN Photography/Shutterstock)
Shakira said: 'It's not just about policy, it's about humanity' (Picture: Kevin Mazur/for Live Nation)
'It's not just about policy,' Shakira continues, 'It's about humanity. The treatment of people must always be humane.'
Shakira's comments come at a time when immigration remains one of the most divisive issues in American politics.
On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump frequently pledged to focus on deporting noncitizens accused of violent crimes.
However, in recent weeks, his administration has intensified its efforts, aiming to boost daily arrests from around 660 to as many as 3,000 – sparking massive backlash from concerned citizens.
To meet that goal, officials have broadened their approach, shifting focus from just individuals with criminal records to conducting large-scale raids on workplaces like farms and factories to detain undocumented migrants.
According to reports, White House adviser Stephen Miller urged Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to 'just go out there and arrest illegal aliens' ahead of a recent operation in Los Angeles.
As reported by Wall Street Journal, Miller allegedly told agents they no longer needed to rely on specific target lists of suspected undocumented immigrants, a departure from previous protocols, and instead should focus on sweeping business raids to maximize arrests.
According to the Migration Policy Institute, there are more than 44million immigrants living in the U.S., with nearly 11m undocumented.
Donald Trump's administration has cracked down on immigrants, separating families and causing widespread fear (Picture: AP)
The vast majority are long-time residents, many with deep family and community ties who contribute meaningfully to society in a variety of ways. Yet, heightened enforcement and anti-immigrant rhetoric continue to create an atmosphere of uncertainty, fear, and terror.
During Shakira's Grammy acceptance speech earlier this year – where she won Best Latin Pop Album – Shakira used her moment to speak directly to immigrants: 'You are loved, you are worth it, and I will always fight with you.'
That message resonates with her fans, many of whom have followed her journey from Pies Descalzos to Acróstico. In Miami, her crowd spans generations, with mothers and daughters belting out lyrics together in Spanish.
Despite her fears, Shakira remains hopeful: 'Now, more than ever, we have to remain united,' she says. 'Now, more than ever, we have to raise our voices.'
She isn't the only one to speak out against recent ICE raids, with Eva Longoria also making her opinion known.
She said she 'kept crying' before composing a message to her fans.
'I don't want it to be about me and my emotions about it, but it is so inhumane, hard to watch, and hard to witness from afar,' she said.
'I can't believe it's happening all over the country. It's un-American.
'We all can agree nobody wants criminals in our country, nobody wants rapists, nobody wants drug dealers, nobody wants bad actors in our country – that's not what's happening.'
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She continued: 'These roundups are happening in birthday parties, in elementary graduations, Home Depots – those are not criminals. I just hope that everybody has more compassion to this issue and realise we had industries dependant on immigrant labour. These are people who feed us and take care of us and our children, and our communities and we can't deny them as humans,' she said.
'These are hardworking people and they want to come here and work and provide for their families.'
Saying she would 'continue to post and speak out', Eva went on to list of organisations that offered legal services to immigrants.
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