Diego Luna criticizes Trump’s immigration policies on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and highlights immigrants’ vital role in building and sustaining the U.S.
Diego Luna devoted much of his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to a pointed critique of President Trump’s immigration policies and a celebration of immigrants’ vital role in building and sustaining the United States.
Stepping in for Jimmy Kimmel, Luna first acknowledged the significance of a Mexican national hosting a major American talk show amid an atmosphere of heightened anti-immigrant rhetoric.
He quipped that “it’s no small thing that a Mexican is hosting such an important show,” then quickly transitioned to the heart of his message: immigrants aren’t just guests in America—they’re the backbone of its growth and resilience.
Drawing on his own journey, Luna recounted arriving in Los Angeles at age 20 following the success of Y tu mamá también. He described the L.A. community that embraced him—one forged by people who, like himself, left their homelands not for leisure but out of necessity and survival.
He stressed that nobody uproots their life “just for fun,” but that those who do often arrive with deep gratitude for a country that opened its doors. For Luna, the richness of Los Angeles—its food, art, and neighborhoods—owes everything to the cultural exchange made possible by generous, hard-working immigrants working side by side.
Luna then shifted to a stark appraisal of recent political developments. He voiced disbelief that Donald Trump’s “hate speech” could take root in a nation historically known for welcome and opportunity.
Since Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year, the administration has ramped up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids nationwide, including in Los Angeles, prompting large-scale protests.
In an unprecedented move, the president deployed California’s National Guard to the city—a deployment that Governor Gavin Newsom has fiercely contested as “unlawful,” though a federal appeals court has tentatively upheld Trump’s authority to activate the guard.
Against this backdrop of fear and family separation, Luna underlined the countless ways immigrants reinforce the American economy and social fabric.
He catalogued their roles—firefighters who risk their lives during L.A.’s wildfires; construction workers, hospitality staff, and kitchen chefs; teachers, caregivers for the elderly, farmers, technicians, merchants, athletes, and drivers.
He pointed out that immigrants contribute an estimated $96.7 billion in taxes annually, regardless of documentation status—a fact he lamented is routinely obscured by the Trump administration.
Finally, Luna issued a rallying cry for empathy and solidarity. He urged viewers to counteract “lies flying around about immigrants” by sharing personal stories that highlight their humanity and contributions.
“Today, they need to know that they’re not alone,” he said, framing the struggle of immigrant families as a collective American responsibility. In closing, he condemned family separations and the “violence and terror” inflicted by aggressive enforcement, insisting these tactics are neither acceptable nor normal.
Through his heartfelt appeal, Luna reminded audiences that America’s strength lies in its diversity—and that the immigrants who arrived seeking refuge have, time and again, been the very ones to rebuild and enrich the nation.
