Are Selena Gomez's parents immigrants? Everything to know about singer-produced Netflix series Living Undocumented

Selena Gomez is a multi-platinum recording artist, philanthropist, actress, and producer. The Emilia Perez actress is the executive producer of the Netflix documentary Living Undocumented.

She was approached with the project in 2017 and was moved to tears after she watched footage of people who live in constant fear of deportation. Released in 2019, the six-part series follows the lives of eight undocumented immigrant families in the United States.

The Single Soon singer was born to Mandy Teefey and Ricardo Joel Gomez on July 22, 1992. While her mother was in Texas and has Italian ancestry, her father's side of the family has a complicated immigration history. Gomez penned an emotional note in honor of the documentary and the lives that are affected by undocumented immigration.

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Everything about Living Undocumented

Executive-produced by Selena Gomez, Living Undocumented debuted on Netflix on October 2, 2019. The six-part documentary series does not depict fictional portrayals but rather follows the lives of eight families who live in six different states, hail from six different countries, and experience various problems due to their immigration status. According to Vulture, the families hail from Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Laos, Israel, and Mauritania.

The series has been co-directed and co–executive produced by Aaron Saidman and Anna Chai. To find the families, the producers scanned through hundreds of potential candidates through local news, immigration attorneys, and even social media.

Gomez took to her Instagram to share a glimpse of the documentary. The footage shows a young girl who was separated from her uncle and aunt as they were detained at the borders.

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"I feel afraid for my country," Executive Producer Selena Gomez writes powerful essay for Living Undocumented

Selena Gomez took to her Instagram to post about the release and expressed gratitude and joy in participating in the documentary. She wrote,

"Grateful to play a part in getting this out into the world."

Additionally, she penned an emotional and powerful essay in honor of the documentary with Time. The Rare Beauty founder wrote that she thinks about undocumented immigrants daily and is grateful to be born in the United States. However, she penned down her pain in seeing the atrocities faced by immigrants and expressed her fear,

"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.”

In her essay, she acknowledged that she is not an expert on the complexities of immigration, but she recognizes that it can dismantle lives. Selena Gomez urged her readers who think about undocumented immigration and noted,

“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 also offered an idea in which everyone can contribute towards this sensitive cause. She wrote,

“It’s time to listen to the people whose lives are being directly affected by immigration policies.”

She added,

“It’s time to get to know the individuals whose complex stories have been reduced to basic headlines.”

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Selena talks about her family's immigration and her message for immigrant graduates

Living Undocumented is close to Selena Gomez's heart and her family's experiences. In the essay, she also wrote about her family and noted her family's experiences crossing the border from Mexico and living in the United States. She wrote that in the 1970s, her aunt crossed the Mexico border and entered the United States "hidden in the back of a truck."

Selena Gomez further revealed that her grandparents followed, and her father was born in Texas. She reported that her family has worked hard for four decades to gain US citizenship. She wrote,

"In 1992, I was born a U.S. citizen thanks to their bravery and sacrifice."

In 2020, she talked about her family in a graduation speech and praised immigrant students who graduated during the COVID pandemic. She said,

“I want you guys to know that you matter and that your experiences are a huge part of the American story.”

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Selena Gomez's experience of Living Undocumented touches on her own personal experiences. Her essay urges her fans to become more aware of immigration concerns and educate themselves about the millions of people in the country.