Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan has openly shared her concerns about the challenges faced by Latinos in the United States during Donald Trump's second term, during an interview on the Spanish show "El Hormiguero." The artist admitted that she carries her passport as a precaution: "It scares me a little bit. I carry my passport card just in case, in case someone hears me speaking Spanish and something crazy happens. It would be unbelievable to be arrested for speaking Spanish..." she stated.
Having lived in Miami since she was a child, Estefan supports legal and organized immigration but has criticized the treatment of immigrants. "Seeing families being separated, the mistreatment of many people, women being thrown to the ground in front of their children... That scares me. I've lived there for many years and have never seen anything like this," she emphasized.
This isn't the first time Estefan has criticized Donald Trump's immigration policies. In a previous interview in July, she mentioned that despite experiencing racial segregation during her youth, she has never seen the United States so divided. "In the 65 years I've been here, I saw segregation and the horrors faced by African Americans during a time when they stood with Martin Luther King. I was a child, but I saw it all... And I haven't seen anything like this," she remarked.
Gloria Estefan's Cultural Commitment in Madrid
Her appearance on "El Hormiguero" was to promote her free concert in Madrid's Plaza de Colón on Sunday, October 5, as part of the Hispanidad 2025 celebrations. Estefan highlighted the importance of celebrating the Spanish language and Hispanic culture: "We need to create and nurture those bonds we share, like the language of the motherland, and I believe that at this moment, we must be proud of who we are and where we come from," she expressed.
Estefan's concert will be one of the highlights of the Hispanidad 2025 events, organized by the Community of Madrid for the National Day festivities on October 12. The artist, celebrating 50 years in her career, has already warned: "Bring comfortable shoes, because we are going to dance."
At 68 years old, with over 50 years of career, three Grammy Awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Estefan combines her cultural commitment with activism by highlighting the risks and fears faced by Latinos in her country of residence.
Understanding Gloria Estefan's Concerns and Cultural Impact
What are Gloria Estefan's main concerns about Trump's immigration policies?
Gloria Estefan is concerned about the harsh treatment of immigrants, including family separations and mistreatment of women and children. She also fears the possibility of being targeted for speaking Spanish.
How does Gloria Estefan view the current state of the United States?
Estefan believes the United States is more polarized now than it has been in the past, even more so than during the era of racial segregation she witnessed as a child.
What is the significance of Gloria Estefan's concert in Madrid?
The concert in Madrid is part of the Hispanidad 2025 celebrations, emphasizing the importance of Hispanic culture and language, and serves as a platform for Estefan to express cultural pride and unity.