Shakira laments 'constant fear' faced by immigrants: 'It's painful to see'
Shakira has conquered the world with her music, but she hasn't forgotten her raíces.
The Colombian pop star, 48, reflected on her immigrant background, as well as the impact of the current political climate on immigrant communities, in an interview with the BBC published June 12. The singer, who started her music career as a teenager in her native Colombia, moved to the United States in the late 1990s to raise her musical profile.
"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," Shakira told the British outlet. "And I remember I was surrounded by Spanish-English dictionaries and synonym dictionaries — because back in the day, I didn't really have Google or ChatGPT to (help). So, it was all very precarious."
The Grammy-winning songstress, known for her bilingual dance hits, also got candid on the tensions faced by many immigrants amid the Trump administration's sweeping deportation efforts, which have sparked nationwide protests. "It means living in constant fear. And it's painful to see," she said.
Earlier this month, several demonstrations erupted across Los Angeles in response to a handful of immigration raids. The federal invasions, carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, took place in several parts of the city as part of a directive from President Donald Trump to find immigrants living in the United States without legal status.
The White House previously set a goal of removing 1 million people annually, making good on Trump's campaign promise to conduct the largest deportation operation in history.
After small protests against the raids on June 6, Trump took several swift actions, including calling in the 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines, which drew ire — and at least one lawsuit — from state officials who accused the president of stoking tension and escalating unrest.
"Now, more than ever, we have to remain united," Shakira continued. "Now, more than ever, we have to raise our voices and make it very clear that a country can change its immigration policies, but the treatment of all people must always be humane."
This isn't the first time Shakira has shown her support for immigrant communities.
While attending the 67th annual Grammy Awards in February, Shakira gave a heartfelt shout-out to her fellow immigrants while accepting the award for best Latin pop album.
"I want to dedicate this award to all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country," she said. "You are loved, you are worth it, and I will always fight with you."
Contributing: Brendan Morrow and Trevor Hughes, Paste BN