President Donald Trump has signed the Laken Riley Act, a significant piece of legislation aimed at tightening immigration enforcement. The act is named after Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who tragically lost her life in an encounter with an undocumented immigrant, Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was convicted of her murder in November. This law broadens the government's authority to swiftly deport undocumented immigrants, allowing officials to detain any migrant merely charged with a crime, circumventing due process.
In a video shared on the official White House social media accounts, three mothers—Tammy Nobles, Alexis Nungaray, and Patty Morin—whose children were allegedly murdered by undocumented immigrants, voiced their support for Trump's anti-immigration stance. The video serves as a direct response to recent comments made by musician Selena Gomez, who expressed sympathy for Mexican Americans and immigrants in an Instagram post. Gomez's heritage includes Mexican American roots, and she was born in the United States.
The mothers in the video criticized Gomez's sincerity regarding her sentiments. Nobles stated, “President Trump genuinely cares for the American people, and he cares for the American family. We stand with President Trump and making America safe again.” They implied that Gomez's compassion was insincere and merely an act to garner sympathy.
"The courageous mothers had something to say to @SelenaGomez and those who oppose securing our borders,"
— White House social media caption
Gomez's recent post prompted backlash from some right-wing commentators, with suggestions that she "should be deported." In response to the released video targeting her, Gomez took to Instagram again, questioning the White House's approach: “How is the White House official page posting this? Are you serious?” She further elaborated her stance, stating that individuals can grieve for victims like Laken Riley while also empathizing with families affected by immigration policies.
"Selena can absolutely grieve for Laken Riley, who should still be with us today, while also feeling for families being torn apart. This administration hasn’t just targeted immigrants with criminal convictions — they've turned it into propaganda, despite the fact that immigrants do not commit crimes at higher rates."
— Selena Gomez
The political landscape surrounding this issue has become increasingly polarized. Nungaray expressed skepticism regarding Gomez’s intentions, stating, “Seeing that video, it's hard to believe it's actually genuine and real because she's an actress.”
Gomez's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Entertainment Weekly. As public discourse intensifies over immigration policies and their implications, the exchange between the Trump administration and Gomez highlights the complex intersections of celebrity, politics, and personal tragedy.
