In an intimate essay she penned for Time in October 2019, Selena revealed that her paternal grandparents (as well as her dad's older sister) were illegal immigrants. "In the 1970s, my aunt crossed the border from Mexico to the United States hidden in the back of a truck," she wrote. "My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after." Selena is incredibly appreciative of her family's bravery and initiative, because without it, she may not have been born a US citizen. "Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day," she added, "and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance."