Is Selena Gomez’s dad from Mexico? All we know about parents as singer sobs over immigration crackdown in viral video

Selena Gomez’s grandparents, Mary and Ricardo Gomez, immigrated to the United States from Monterrey, Mexico, in the 1970s, and her father, Ricardo Joel Gomez, was born in Texas shortly after their arrival.

Selena Gomez has been open about her family’s immigration story, sharing that her aunt crossed the border from Mexico hidden in the back of a truck. She shared:

“Fear didn’t stop her from making that journey, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.”

Mandy Teefey, Selena's mother, and Rick Gomez crossed paths during their teenage years while attending school in Grand Prairie, Texas. At just 16 years old, Mandy got pregnant, and the couple welcomed Selena on July 22, 1992. In an interview with People Magazine, Selena Gomez said:

“Having me at 16 had to have been a big responsibility. My mom gave up everything for me and had, like, three jobs. She supported me, sacrificed her life for me.”

Rick Gomez appears to have taken a step back from Selena’s life in recent years. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Selena revealed:

“He didn’t want to be a part of this industry life, so it was really me and my mom, our journey.”

Despite the distance, Rick Gomez has shown his support from afar. His Instagram page occasionally features photos of him and Selena, offering glimpses of their connection.

---

Selena Gomez's now-deleted viral post over the latest immigration crackdown

Selena Gomez recently posted a video of her crying about the immigration crackdown with the words I'm sorry and a Mexican flag emoji. In the video, wiping her tears, Selena says:

"All my people are getting attacked, the children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry, I wish I could do something, but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise."

She later removed the video and, based on a screenshot circulating online, shared a follow-up Instagram story. The now-deleted post reportedly featured a caption that read:

"Apparently it’s not okay to show empathy for people."

Selena Gomez has long been vocal about her stance on immigration. In a first-person piece for TIME magazine in October 2019, during Donald Trump’s presidency, she shared her personal connection to the issue and the challenges faced by her family. She reflected on her family’s journey, saying:

"Over the past four decades, members of my family have worked hard to gain United States citizenship. Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance. "

Selena expressed concern over the harsh rhetoric surrounding immigration, adding:

“When I see debates and headlines about immigration, I can’t help but feel fear—for those in similar situations and for the future of my country. Immigration isn’t just a political topic; it’s about real people and their lives being torn apart.”

Selena Gomez was inspired to executive produce the 2019 Netflix documentary series Living Undocumented - which follows the struggles of eight immigrant families currently living in the U.S.