In a recent appearance on the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast, former First Lady Michelle Obama expressed deep concern over the Trump administration’s immigration policies. She revealed that these policies are a source of sleepless nights for her, highlighting the emotional toll they take on vulnerable communities.
Michelle Obama on the Trump Administration
“In this current climate, for me it’s what’s happening to immigrants,” Obama shared. “It’s not the fear for myself anymore. I drive around in a four-car motorcade with a police escort. I’m Michelle Obama.” Despite her own security, she emphasized, “My fears are for what I know is happening out there in streets all over the city.”
Obama drew parallels between current immigration enforcement and past experiences of racial profiling. She recounted an incident involving her brother, Craig Robinson, who was once accused of stealing a bike as a child. “There’s so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kind of choices,” she said. “I worry for people of color all over this country.”
Without directly naming former President Donald Trump, Obama criticized the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement. “Now that we have leadership that is, sort of, indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesn’t,” she remarked. “We know that those decisions aren’t being made with courts and with due process.”
These comments come amid reports that the Trump administration has utilized the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to expedite deportations, particularly targeting certain Venezuelan migrants. This approach has faced legal challenges, with the Supreme Court ruling that affected individuals are entitled to hearings.
Reflecting on the broader implications, Obama questioned, “How do you feel comfortable going to work, going to school, when you know that there could be people out here judging you and who could upend your life in a second — that’s who I worry for right now.”
Throughout her public life, Michelle Obama has consistently advocated for diversity and inclusion. In a 2016 commencement speech at City College of New York, she stated, “In America, we don’t give into our fears. We don’t build up walls to keep people out.”
Her recent remarks underscore ongoing concerns about the direction of U.S. immigration policy and its impact on marginalized communities.