Internationally renowned Colombian singer Shakira has revealed she feels afraid to continue living in the United States, citing the current climate surrounding immigration policies. Shakira, who moved from Colombia to Miami, Florida, as a teenager to pursue her music career, made the comments in the context of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.
Speaking to BBC News, the artist expressed deep concern for immigrant communities, stating they now find themselves in a “very vulnerable position.” “It’s painful to see,” Shakira said, emphasizing that immigrants in the United States today are living in fear. She shared her own experience, noting, “I was only 19 when I moved to the US, like many other Colombian immigrants who come to this country in search of a better future.”
Shakira described learning English through studying the poetry of Walt Whitman and the songs of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan to understand songwriting in the language. She directly appealed to authorities for a revision of immigration legislation, framing the issue in humanitarian terms.
Her strong statement followed the cancellation of the third show on her highly anticipated tour within just three days of its start. Addressing her Latino fans publicly in Spanish during this period, she urged them to stay strong. “Now, more than ever, we need to come together,” Shakira declared. “Now, more than ever, we must make our voices heard and make it clear that while a country can change its immigration policy, the treatment of all people must always be humane.”
Shakira’s stance comes amid reported immigration raids and unrest affecting cities like Los Angeles, which have also prompted reactions from other major celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Eva Longoria, who have expressed outrage over the unrest and the administration’s policies towards protesters.
Earlier this year, Shakira won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.” During her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to “all her immigrant brothers and sisters in this country,” vowing, “I will always fight alongside you.” Her recent comments underscore her continued activism and personal unease with the current environment in her adopted home.
