One Year Ago, Selena Gomez Cried Over ICE Deportations and MAGA Supporters Mocked Her Tears

A resurfaced social media clip of Selena Gomez crying over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and deportations has drawn renewed attention this week after years of online debate over the US immigration crackdown. In the footage, Gomez is visibly emotional as she apologises for the pain and fear she said families were enduring under aggressive enforcement policies, saying she felt powerless but committed to trying to help. The video, originally posted in January 2025 and later deleted, has circulated widely again amid heightened national discussion over ICE actions and several high-profile incidents involving federal agents this month.

When the clip first emerged, it quickly became a flashpoint for culture-war commentary. Prominent pro-Trump social media accounts and MAGA supporters mocked Gomez's emotional response, turning parts of her message into memes and deriding her empathy as 'cringe' or performative. Some critics on X and other platforms even suggested she should be deported herself, despite her American citizenship, and Republican figures shared videos and commentary aimed at discrediting her stance. Gomez subsequently removed the video and posted that 'apparently it's not ok to show empathy for people,' highlighting the intense online backlash she faced.

The renewed interest in Gomez's clip reflects how debates over immigration enforcement have intensified, with critics and supporters alike revisiting past responses as current events unfold. For many, the singer's emotional plea has become a marker of how celebrity voices are received celebrated by some for speaking out on humanitarian concerns, and mocked by others who see such statements as political grandstanding. As ICE policies and related controversies remain in the spotlight, the conversation around Gomez's video underscores broader tensions over empathy, activism and the boundaries of public discourse online.