Gloria Estefan Expresses Deep Concern Over Rising Immigration Fears in the U.S.

Gloria Estefan revealed she carries her passport at all times in the U.S. due to growing anxieties about immigration policies. The Cuban-American singer and four-time Grammy Award winner made the remarks while drawing parallels between current U.S. practices under President Donald Trump’s administration and the Cuba her family fled under Fidel Castro.

Estefan described instances where individuals with legal residency for decades have been detained. “I have lived in the U.S. for 66 years—never have I seen freedoms being eroded in the way they are now,” she said. She recounted a case of a woman who had legally resided in the country for 25 years, entered via visa, and paid taxes but was detained after an immigration appointment. “She’s been at a detention center for five months,” Estefan added.

The recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 said she carries her passport as a precaution. “I was born in Cuba—this is why we’re wary, because this is the way things happened there,” she explained. She also highlighted growing fears over speaking Spanish publicly, noting that such moments now cause concern for her and her family.

In a separate interview, Estefan expressed worries about Latino Americans, stating she carries her passport out of fear of being questioned for speaking Spanish in public. “It would be incredible if I were arrested for speaking Spanish,” she said. She criticized the harsh treatment of migrants, citing cases of separated families and mistreatment of individuals.

Estefan also addressed reports of Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny avoiding U.S. tours due to immigration raids, responding with a hopeful tone: “Yes sir, but look now, he’ll be singing at the Super Bowl.”