Hollywood actress and activist Eva Longoria is speaking out forcefully against the recent mass deportations carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling the situation “inhumane” and “un-American.”
In a heartfelt video posted to her social media, Longoria, visibly emotional, shared her distress over ICE raids currently unfolding across cities like Los Angeles and Austin.
“Every time I try to record a message, I just start crying,” she said, calling the actions “hard to watch” and “hard to witness from afar.”
She pointed out that while no one supports violent criminals remaining in the country, these roundups are targeting everyday families, not felons.
“These roundups are happening at birthday parties, elementary school graduations, Home Depot — those are not criminals,” she said.
A Controversial Legacy of Enforcement
Longoria’s comments echo widespread criticism of immigration enforcement policies by President Donald Trump’s administration, where ICE operations have been intensified and prioritized under his second term. That policy, which was a key part of his 2024 presidential campaign, has led to widespread family separations, incarcerations and deportations. The policy has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights advocates.
Although ICE enforcement predates the Trump administration, his tenure has been marked by a sharp increase in interior enforcement raids and a decrease in prosecutorial discretion. Nonviolent undocumented immigrants — including long-term U.S. residents — are increasingly being swept up in mass arrests, often without clear access to legal counsel or due process.
Longoria also addressed a common anti-immigration talking point: “get in line.” She challenged the narrative, stating, “There is no line. There are people who have been waiting for citizenship for 25 years.”
Support for Legal Aid and Advocacy
The actress, known for her decades-long activism on behalf of Latino communities, urged the public to support immigrant legal defense organizations. She highlighted four key groups providing aid to affected families:
- MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defence and Educational Fund)
- National Immigrant Justice Center
- IMDEF (Immigrant Defense Fund)
- National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)
“These are the services our communities are going to need. They need lawyers. They need help with the due process that they’re not getting right now,” she said.
Longoria also thanked allies who have joined in protesting the treatment of undocumented immigrants, stressing on the point that the pain is being felt across racial and cultural lines.
“We have industries dependent on immigrant labor,” she said. “These are people who feed us, take care of our families, and support our communities.”
Longoria’s emotional appeal adds to the growing pressure on both GOP and Democratic lawmakers to put pressure on Trump to tone down his hard stance on immigration.
“We can’t deny them as humans,” she concluded. “We just can’t.”
