Becky G, Kiké Hernandez, Adrian Gonzalez defend immigrants
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- June 17, 2025
Latino stars speak out against ICE
Superstar singer/actress Becky G is disappointed. Dodgers star Enrique Kiké Hernandez, a charismatic Puerto Rican who usually sports a smile, is furious. Retired All-Star Adrian Gonzalez promised to “defend my raza.”
Becky G, the granddaughter of immigrants, used her platform to send a message to her 37.1 million Instagram followers defending undocumented immigrants in the United States. As President Donald Trump has ramped up his quest to rid the United States of undocumented immigrants, Latino stars have spoken up to defend immigrants.
“The most American thing about me is that I am a proud grand-daughter of immigrants,” Becky G posted on Instagram. “My dreams are made of their sacrifices, tears, love & belief in the opportunity this country promised. They are the reason why I am here today. When you see me, you see them.
“Who they were before & after they became U.S. citizens never changed. Innocent & hardworking people deserve to be treated with dignity & respect. The people being attacked today are not ‘illegal aliens,’ they are human beings with RIGHTS. We must understand that an attack on them is an attack on OUR DEMOCRACY & an attack on what this country was made to stand for.”
‘Disappointed’ Becky G
Becky G, who was born Rebecca Marie Gomez, is a 28-year-old superstar from Inglewood, Calif. She’s a second-generation Mexican American whose four grandparents were born in Jalisco, Mexico. She made her name singing in English, but she’s a crossover star now. She genuinely represents the Latino experience with bilingual excellence and acclaim.
At 28, she is not afraid to speak truth to power or to the mainstream media. As some in the media painted the mostly peaceful protests in Los Angeles earlier this month as a violent riots, she chastised the media.
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“I am disappointed in the misrepresentation from the media of what the Community of Los Angeles is standing up for,” Becky G said. “There is a yearning for common decency in practice and respect towards all human life. We want safety & protection for our immigrant community – in a country where the right to protest, peacefully, has consistently changed the course of history.
“Our hearts are broken but our spirit & will to fight back is not! We who have the privilege of being born here must continue to speak up!”
That’s exactly what popular Dodgers star Enrique “Kiké” Hernandez did on Saturday. As many media and Latino leaders criticize the Dodgers’ organization for failing to speak up in support of Los Angeles’ immigrant community, Hernandez used his Instagram platform to express his displeasure with how immigrants are being treated and portrayed in Los Angeles.
Furious Hernandez
The outspoken two-time World Series champion made his displeasure clear.
“I may not be Born & Raised, but this city adopted me as one of their own,” Hernandez wrote on Instagram. “I am saddened and infuriated by what’s happening in our country and our city. Los Angeles and Dodger fans have welcomed me, supported me and shown me nothing but kindness and love.
“This is my second home. And I cannot stand to see our community being violated, profiled, abused and ripped apart. ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and human rights. #CityOfImmigrants.”
Hernandez, 33, posted his message in English and Spanish on Saturday. The 12-year MLB veteran has spent parts of nine seasons with the Dodgers, helping the organization win its last two World Series titles.
Adrian Gonzalez, 43, played the last game of his 15-year MLB career in 2018. But he’s still a major voice throughout baseball. For many years, Gonzalez was the leader of the Mexican national team program in the World Baseball Classic.
‘Mexican through and through’
Gonzalez, whose parents are from Sonora, Mexico, describes himself as “Mexican through and through.” His wife Betzabe immigrated from Guadalajara with her parents when she was 6 years old.
Although Gonzalez was born in San Diego, he grew up across the border in Tijuana and didn’t speak English until he was 11 years old.
“I have always worn the Mexico jersey proudly and will always defend my raza,” Gonzalez wrote on Facebook. “What is happening is not just wrong, it is unconstitutional, it is illegal. Separating families without cause, profiling individuals due to the color of their skin is not right.
“It needs to stop. The way … our communities are standing up to peaceful protests and come together shows that united we can be heard. My hope is that those government officials who are in agreement with us in this fight can take a strong stand and are able to create change.”
Hernandez, Gonzalez and (Becky G) Gomez, a trio whose given last names in a Z, have spoken for an immigrant community that has been demonized by Trump and his followers lately.
“Today,” Becky G wrote, “I hold on to the words of my dear friend Dolores Huerta “SI SE PUEDE!”
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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