Gloria Estefan, the renowned Cuban-American singer, has voiced her concerns about the treatment of certain immigrants in the United States, sharing a personal story she recently encountered on a domestic flight. During an interview with Canela News, Estefan discussed the alarming loss of humanity in some immigration practices and highlighted how her latest album, Raíces, aims to spread a positive message amid a politically troubling climate.
Estefan recounted an incident she witnessed on a flight from Las Vegas, where immigration officers boarded the plane before passengers disembarked. “I noticed a police officer at the airplane door and thought, ‘uh-oh’,” she said. “They entered, and there was a woman two rows behind me with a baby. They took the baby from her arms, and both the woman and the baby began to cry. More officers arrived and escorted the woman away.” Reflecting on this, she questioned, “Why was it necessary to take the child from the mother's arms if both were going to leave together anyway?”
The "Mi Tierra" singer expressed her distress over America's current trajectory and the declining empathy for the vulnerable. “I don’t understand why humanity has to be lost. We must remember to maintain our humanity at all times. It frightens me,” she stated.
In response to this social disconnect, Estefan explained that her new album Raíces serves as an artistic response: “It was important for us to put something positive into the world with music, highlighting love, connection, and roots. We should be proud of who we are and shout it from the rooftops in Spanish.”
“This country was built by immigrants. Yes, there are people who exploit this, criminals who take advantage, and we need rules. But going to such extremes is unnecessary. To me, it's more of a political message than a necessity, and that scares me,” affirmed the artist, who emigrated from Cuba to the U.S. as a child, later rising to become one of the most celebrated voices in Latin music.
These remarks echo her recent statements to El País, where she reiterated her faith in America but with cautionary notes: “I have faith in this country, I believe in the judicial system, but we need to be careful. Democracy is a living, breathing entity, and if you don’t give it oxygen, it can die.”
Although Estefan insists that “music should be a catharsis” rather than a platform for politics, her career has often intersected with social causes. “I suffered a lot due to politics because of my father, first at the Bay of Pigs, then in Vietnam,” she explained in her Canela TV interview. Despite this, she has been involved in social campaigns, such as in 2023, when she moderated a discussion with then-Vice President Kamala Harris at a Miami Beach conference on climate change, where they addressed environmental and social justice issues.
From her home in Miami, Estefan staunchly defends the cultural and identity values of Latinos in the United States: “Spanish is the language of my heart. This music is a tribute to who we are.”
Understanding Gloria Estefan's Perspective on U.S. Immigration Policies
What experience did Gloria Estefan share about immigration practices?
Gloria Estefan shared an incident she witnessed on a flight from Las Vegas, where immigration officers removed a baby from a mother two rows behind her. Both the mother and child were visibly distressed, raising questions about the necessity of such actions.
How does Gloria Estefan's new album "Raíces" relate to her views on immigration?
Her album "Raíces" is intended as a positive response to social disconnection, celebrating love, connection, and cultural roots, while encouraging pride in one's heritage.
What is Gloria Estefan's stance on America's handling of immigration?
Gloria Estefan is concerned about the extreme measures taken in immigration policies, which she believes are more politically motivated than necessary, and are contributing to the loss of humanity in how immigrants are treated.