By Zoe Papadakis | Thursday, 30 October 2025 12:25 PM EDT
Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan revealed she carries her passport at all times in the U.S. due to growing concerns over immigration enforcement. The four-time Grammy winner drew parallels between current policies and the authoritarian practices of Fidel Castro’s Cuba, where her family fled.
In an interview with The Times, Estefan described witnessing legal residents detained despite decades of lawful residence. “I’ve lived in the U.S. for 66 years—never have I seen freedoms eroded like this,” she said. She cited a case involving a woman who had resided legally in the country for 25 years, entered with a visa, and paid taxes but was detained after an immigration appointment. “She’s been in a center for five months,” Estefan added.
The recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 emphasized her caution, stating she always carries her passport card “just in case.” She attributed this vigilance to her Cuban heritage, noting, “This is how things happened there.”
Estefan also expressed unease about speaking Spanish in public, a natural part of family life. “When we’re out with the family, it’s normal to speak Spanish,” she said. During a separate interview on Spanish TV program El Hormiguero, she voiced fears of being questioned for her language, stating, “It would be incredible if I were arrested for speaking Spanish.”
While advocating for “legal and organized” immigration, Estefan criticized harsh treatment of migrants, including family separations and physical abuse. When asked about Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny avoiding U.S. tours amid raids, she quipped, “Yes sir, but look now, he’ll be singing at the Super Bowl.”
