Selena Gomez Pens Powerful Essay About Immigration

Selena Gomez wants to bring attention to the immigration crisis in the U.S. She recently penned an op-ed for Time magazine about how her family came to the United States as undocumented immigrants.

"In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck. My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after," says Gomez.

She thanked her family for their "bravery" and credited them and their "sacrifice" for being the reason she and her family are able to be citizens.

"I was born a U.S. citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice. Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship," she wrote.

She dives deeper into the subject of undocumented immigration by urging people to understand that it's a "human issue."

"It is a human issue, affecting real people, dismantling real lives," wrote Gomez."How we deal with it speaks to our humanity, our empathy, our compassion. How we treat our fellow human beings defines who we are."

She admits that when she sees the way people react to the subject, it makes her "afraid" for the country.

"When I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations. I feel afraid for my country," she wrote.

She hopes using her platform as a celebrity, and her upcoming Netflix series Living Undocumented, which she executive produced, encourages people to educate themselves and face their "fear" on the subject.

"Fear shouldn't stop us from getting involved and educating ourselves on an issue that affects millions of people in our country," wrote Gomez. "Fear didn’t stop my aunt from getting into the back of that truck. And for that, I will always be grateful."