Zoe Saldana Talks Current Immigration Issue: ‘People Have to be Open to the Reality’

Zoe Saldana is Latina magazine's cover girl for its December 2015-January 2016 issue. In the publication's accompanying interview, the Puerto Rican-Dominican actress discussed the current immigration issue in the U.S. and the country's Latino culture.

"You can't kill us. You can't send us back," Saldana said of those people scared of the Latinization of America, as quoted by the magazine.

She continued, "We are millions and millions here because it is our time to migrate. We are the youngest culture. We are doing what your people did. So shut up and just deal with it. Adjust your laws, because it's not going away. If anything, I want to give them a hug, and say, 'It's okay. It's new. Don't be scared. We're great people. We're gonna do great and better things for your country. Trust me.' We're not angry either. We're a culture that isn't angry."

The 37-year-old movie star, who shot to fame when she headlined 2009's "Avatar," said that Latinos are "very respectful" and that chose the high road when they started experiencing discrimination, Latina magazine added. Saldana noted that she is as American as she is a Latina, and that the U.S. belongs to its Hispanic residents too because of their contributions to the country.

The "Guardians of the Galaxy" actress also touched on the current immigration debate in the U.S. According to Saldana, the topic of immigration "hurts" because she doesn't want to be mad about it anymore, Latina magazine added.

"I don't believe that what anybody else is saying is true about me or my people. I'm kind of embarrassed when you see all of these people talking on national television, and it's like, 'Oh my God, if your grandfather were alive today, when he came here from Ireland, from Italy, escaped the f--king war in Russia. You're rotting his name to shame. It doesn't matter how much money you have, or how many degrees from Ivy League schools. You're such a bigot. You're such a hick right now.' People have to be open to the reality of what's happening in our country," she explained to the magazine,

Saldana has twin boys named Cy and Bowie with her husband Marco Perego. She is set to reprise her roles in upcoming "Avatar" installments as Neytiri and in "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" as Gamora. Saldana is also onboard to star alongside Ben Affleck, Sienna Miller, Elle Fanning, Chris Messina, and Miguel in the Prohibition drama "Live by Night," Deadline reported.