Selena Gomez has reportedly lost more than 700,000 Instagram followers after sharing a post reacting to Donald Trump’s new executive orders.
Since taking office just a couple of weeks ago, the 47th president has already made controversial changes to immigration laws and even renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Gomez, who has been vocal about social issues in the past, appeared visibly upset by these policies when she shared a video of herself crying on social media.
Trump’s executive order is expected to affect millions of undocumented immigrants, sparking fear and uncertainty. Gomez expressed her distress over the situation.
Fighting back tears, the 32-year-old said: “I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked. The children, I don’t understand. I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise.”
According to CritiqueJeu, a site that tracks celebrity social media activity, Gomez’s Instagram account has seen a significant decline in followers since the controversy.
The Daily Mail reports that Paul Lenglet, co-founder and editor of CritiqueJeu, stated: “Selena Gomez had a great end to 2024, but the start of 2025 has not been so gentle on her.”
CritiqueJeu’s analysis suggests Gomez has lost approximately 808,500 followers in the past month alone.
Meanwhile, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director Tom Homan has been appointed as the Trump administration’s ‘border czar’ and is leading the crackdown on immigration.
Homan explained that military forces have been deployed at the Mexican border to strengthen enforcement. He also emphasized that the administration is taking a strict stance.
He said: “If you’re in the country illegally, you’re on the table, because it’s not OK to, you know, violate the laws of this country,”
“You got to remember, every time you enter this country illegally, you violated a crime under Title Eight, the United States Code 1325, it’s a crime.”
Trump’s Immigration and Deportation Policies Explained
The 78-year-old president has pledged to carry out the largest deportation operation in US history, claiming he could remove up to 20 million undocumented immigrants.
He stated: “We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came,”
Who Is Being Targeted for Deportation?
Trump has clarified that migrants accused of crimes will be the first to be deported, but all undocumented individuals residing in the US could also face removal.
Collateral Arrests
The policy also allows for ‘collateral arrests,’ meaning undocumented individuals who are not accused of a crime but are found near others who are may still be detained.
The administration has said deportations will begin swiftly, though additional funding from Congress may be required to execute these plans at scale.
Expanded Law Enforcement Powers
Under the new orders, federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, ATF, US Marshals, and Bureau of Prisons have been directed to search their records for undocumented migrants.
Additionally, Trump has ordered federal officials to take action against local authorities that interfere with immigration enforcement.
One of the most controversial changes is the reversal of protections that previously prevented arrests at sensitive locations like schools and churches.
Trump’s Other Immigration Policies
Refugee Travel Ban
Trump has expanded his previous travel restrictions, particularly affecting refugees and travelers from Muslim-majority countries.
“We will seal our border and bring back the travel ban,” he previously said.
“Remember the famous travel ban? We didn’t take people from certain areas of the world. We’re not taking them from infested countries.”
Ending Birthright Citizenship
Another executive order aims to end birthright citizenship for children born in the US to undocumented immigrants.
However, a federal judge in Seattle has already called the move “blatantly unconstitutional,” indicating that the policy will face significant legal challenges.
Crackdown on Illegal Entry
During his inauguration speech, Trump vowed to “halt” all illegal entry into the US.
Another order suspends asylum claims for migrants who enter the country illegally, stating that those who cross unlawfully will not be eligible for protections.
‘Remain in Mexico’ Program Reinstated
Trump has reinstated the controversial ‘Remain in Mexico’ program, requiring asylum seekers from outside Mexico to wait in Mexican territory until their US hearings.
As a result, the Mexican government is bracing for a surge in deportees expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
