Michelle Obama Says Fear for Immigrants Under Trump Keeps Her Up at Night

Michelle Obama is losing sleep these days—but it's not because of midnight cravings or marathon Netflix binges. The former first lady shared that the current climate around immigration under President Donald Trump has her deeply worried, especially for people of color and immigrants across the U.S. During a recent appearance on the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast, she spoke candidly about her concerns, saying, "Now that we have leadership that is sort of indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesn't," and lamented that these deportation decisions are happening "without courts and with due process."

She admitted that the anxiety doesn't come from fear for herself—after all, it's hard to feel unsafe in a four-car motorcade with a police escort (perk of being Michelle Obama!). But she's haunted by what might be happening to others out of the spotlight, especially when she sees faces on the streets of LA and wonders how they're coping with the uncertainty.

Michelle was joined by her brother Craig Robinson, and the two reflected on their own experiences with racial bias, including a painful memory of Craig being accused of stealing a bike at age 12—a reminder that these issues have deep roots.

When asked about "recent tests of fear" relating to discrimination, Obama pointed out that, for her, it's the plight of immigrants that stands out most in the current political landscape. While she might be shielded from direct harm, she still worries about her daughters—and, even more so, for the millions of others facing these challenges daily. As she put it, her fears are about "what I know is happening out there in streets all over the city," with a special nod to her hometown of Chicago.

Michelle's remarks come at a time when the Trump administration is ramping up deportation efforts, reportedly removing more than 100,000 illegal immigrants since taking office. Despite the focus on Trump's policies, it's worth noting that the Obama administration also had its share of record-breaking deportation numbers, with over 385,000 people deported annually during his first term, and peaking at nearly 410,000 in 2012.

Maybe the real American tradition is arguing over whose deportation stats are "bigger." Either way, Michelle Obama has made it clear: the human impact is what keeps her up at night, not the numbers.