Shakira Speaks Out on U.S. Immigration Fears Under Trump: “It Means Living in Constant Fear”
Global music icon Shakira is using her voice not just for chart-topping hits but to speak out about the emotional toll immigration policies in the U.S. are having on millions — especially under the renewed leadership of President Donald Trump.
In a recent interview with BBC News, the Colombian-born superstar opened up about the experience of being an immigrant in the United States and how the political climate has dramatically shifted since she first moved to the country as a teenager.
“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 said. Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, she moved to Miami in the early years of her career to break into the English-speaking music industry. She credits literary giants like Leonard Cohen, Walt Whitman, and Bob Dylan with helping her learn English and understand songwriting in her adopted language.
Her move paid off. Over the past two decades, Shakira has become one of the most influential Latin artists in the world, with multiple top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 1 smash “Hips Don’t Lie.” She’s won four Grammy Awards, including Best Latin Pop Album at the 2025 Grammys for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. But despite her success, she says the challenges facing immigrant communities in the U.S. today weigh heavily on her.
Speaking about the current immigration crackdown under Trump’s administration, Shakira didn’t hold back. “It means living in constant fear,” she said. “And it’s painful to see.”
She was referring not only to the tightening of immigration policies but also to the rising number of ICE raids and detentions that have sparked protests in cities like Los Angeles. In response to these protests, Trump controversially deployed National Guard troops to the area — a move that has been fiercely opposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is now locked in a legal battle with the federal government to regain control of his state’s forces.
“Now, more than ever, we have to remain united,” Shakira emphasized. “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 spoken out in defense of immigrant rights. During her acceptance speech at the Grammys earlier this year, she dedicated her win to immigrants across the U.S. “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.”
As Shakira continues to break records in music, she’s also cementing her place as a voice for justice — especially for the communities she feels closest to. In a time of uncertainty and fear for many immigrants, her words serve as both a rallying cry and a reminder of the power of solidarity.