Shakira thinks it’s a scary time to be an immigrant in the United States.
In a new interview with BBC News, the Colombian singer said President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown “means living in constant fear” if you’re not a U.S. native.
“And it’s painful to see,” she added.
But Shakira also reminded people how that energy can be channeled to force change, saying, “Now, more than ever, we have to remain united.”
“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,” the “Hips Don’t Lie” hitmaker explained.
The pop star’s comments come as the Trump administration has been ramping up its deportation efforts with aggressive ICE raids across the U.S.
On Saturday, people gathered to protest his policies at “No Kings” rallies across the country.
Shakira said today’s political climate is a sharp contrast from how she recalls her early days in Miami, Florida, where she first moved as she tried to crossover into the American music industry.
“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,” she told BBC News.
