7 Latina Celebs Who Have Spoken Out In Support of Immigrants

Camila Cabello has been vocal about her own family’s story of undocumented immigration; she is also vocal about other people who have to face the same fate. During this year’s Grammys, she gave the following poignant speech:

“Tonight in this room full of music’s dreamers, we remember that this country was built by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream. I’m here on this stage tonight because just like the dreamers my parents brought me to this country with nothing in their pockets but hope. They showed me what it means to work twice as hard and never give up, and honestly, no part of my journey is any different from theirs. I’m a proud Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City, and all I know is, just like dreams, these kids can’t be forgotten and are worth fighting for.”

Another Latina celeb using her major visibility to bring attention to immigration issues is Jennifer Lopez. In a post to her Instagram account, she shared her views on families being separated:

“The news about the separation of children from their families, I can’t help but think about my own children. I cannot fathom a world where they would be ripped from my arms, taken to a place no better than a prison far from home. I feel we will never forget this moment in time. Bearing witness to these atrocities and that’s what they are, I can say for sure, remaining silent is not an option.

As a Latino, and as you know very well, a proud Bronx born Puerto Rican American, we and the people of all different races, roots, and culture have enriched this country. But the recent rhetoric and constant dismissal of what we bring to the table has to stop. This is about basic human rights and decency. If you care about children, have concern for the lack of transparency about this disastrous display, in full view to the world in general, I encourage you first to get caught up on the situation.

Next, call your congressperson and demand an answer, but I also want you to remain hopeful—hold fast to hope, faith and Love. We first need to admit we have a problem before we can heal it. We cannot focus on the evil, we must push towards unity and get to a healing place. ITS ALL IN OUR HANDS. Supporting one another in these troubled times, we can remain on the right side of history: the side where children are safe and in their parents arms. Act now, call now, speak now, LOVE now.#familiesbelongtogether #lovenothate.”

At the age of 14, Diane Guerrero faced what many children of undocumented parents are facing today. Her parents and brother were deported, and Guerrero was forced to stay with family friends. In addition to telling this story in her memoir, In the Country We Love: My Family Divided, and an essay for the LA Times, Diane shared her experience at the Families Belong Together March:

“I share my struggle to open eyes to the agony that every one of these kids will face forever. It is not temporary. It is forever. It is for life. Even some 17 years later. I can still remember how it felt when I first cried out for my parents and they couldn’t answer. Having my family taken away from me had a severe impact on all of us. It was so irreversible and so irresponsible for our government, which never considered what would happen to me and my brother—my brother Eddy. You deserve so much more than what you have been given. You deserve so much more and I love you.”

Rosario Dawson is known for speaking her mind and bringing awareness to important topics. She recently read the letter of a child refugee, forced to flee his or her country due to gang violence and other dangers:

Salma Hayek has been transparent about the fact that she was an undocumented immigrant at one point. She is also transparent in her disdain for unfair immigration laws. Hayek spoke out on Arizona’s immigration law, SB 1070:

America Ferrera is another Latina celeb who has spoken out for immigrant rights. At the Families Belong Together March, she said:

“I am here not only as a brand new mother, as the proud child of Honduran immigrants and not only an American who sees it as her duty to be here defending justice. I am here as a human being with a beating heart, who can feel pain, who understands compassion and who can easily imagine what it must feel like to struggle the way families are struggling right now. It is easy to imagine that I would hope that if it was my family being torn apart, if it was my brother being arbitrarily criminalized, if it was my sister who was being banned, that someone would stand up for me and my family.”

Eva Longoria uses her celebrity status to help bring to light important causes and issues. Becoming a parent inspired the new mom to talk about the children being ripped apart from their own mothers, and separated from their families: