“It Keeps Me Up at Night”: Michelle Obama Opens Up About Her Fears for Immigrants and People of Color

Even though she’s no longer the First Lady, Michelle Obama hasn’t stepped away from the issues that matter—especially when it comes to justice, equality, and how everyday people are treated across the country.

In a recent episode of On Purpose With Jay Shetty, Michelle sat down with her brother, Craig Robinson, for an honest conversation about fear, privilege, and the quiet battles happening around us. While she acknowledged the level of safety her name and status bring, her heart, she says, is with those who don’t have that protection.

“In this current climate, for me, it’s what’s happening to immigrants,” Michelle Obama shared. “It’s not the fear for myself anymore… I’m Michelle Obama. I drive around in a four-car motorcade. But I do still worry about my daughters—and I worry even more about people who don’t have that kind of security.”

Her concern isn’t just about policy—it’s personal. She pointed to the racism, bias, and ignorance that often fuel major decisions about who belongs in America and who doesn’t. “Now we have leadership that’s determining who belongs and who doesn’t—without due process, without the courts. And we know those decisions are steeped in bias,” she said.

Michelle’s fears are rooted in what she sees every day—from the faces of strangers waiting at bus stops to the stories that don’t always make the headlines. “I look at people on the street, and I wonder, how are you doing? Are you afraid? Are you safe? That haunts me.”

Her brother Craig added his own story to the mix—recalling a moment from childhood when a police officer accused him of stealing a bike that was his own. Michelle saw the same patterns then that she sees now. “These stories don’t change,” she said. “And they never stop being scary.”

This conversation comes as the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts continue to make headlines. According to Fox News, over 100,000 undocumented immigrants have been deported since Trump took office.

In April, more executive orders were signed—targeting sanctuary cities, enforcing English proficiency for truck drivers, and sharing deportation videos online.

Michelle and Craig’s podcast, IMO, has become a safe space for real talk. From marriage and mental health to faith and fame, they’ve welcomed guests like Taraji P. Henson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Keke Palmer, and Issa Rae—but in this episode, the focus was clear: how to keep caring, how to keep fighting, and how to stay awake to the struggles others face, even when you’re no longer in the spotlight.

“I may not be in the White House anymore,” Michelle said, “but I still see what’s happening—and I still care deeply.”